The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Campbell sets out to make Killie cranky tonight
Dick Campbell believes there is a “magic spirit” around Arbroath as he prepares for the biggest game in his fiveyear reign at the Angus club.
The Red Lichties could go top of the Championship with a win over Kilmarnock tonight as the BBC TV cameras come to town.
More than 2,000 are expected to pack into Gayfield, with in excess of 1,200 tickets already sold, over and above the near 900 season-ticket holders.
That will ensure Arbroath play in front of their biggest home crowd since a 1-0 home defeat to Dundee United in 2019.
Campbell is keen to play down the significance of an Arbroath victory – which would be their fifth consecutive win – but is thrilled with his side this year.
“I’m absolutely delighted with the way we’ve started this year,” said Campbell.
“The attitude from the players has been first class and there is a magic spirit about the whole club.
“It’s not just about what we are doing on the park. It’s the way the whole club is working together.
“It’s the buy-in we are getting from players to support the club.
“Things like Joel Nouble taking time out of his own day to drive up to Arbroath and help Arbroath Community Trust underline how well he has integrated.
“We’ve also sold more season tickets than ever before and the crowd are turning up for games in numbers.
“It’s a lovely, lovely place to work at right now and I want to keep enjoying it.”
But while Campbell is content with life at Arbroath, he is refusing to get carried away.
Kilmarnock began the season as favourites to win the Championship title.
And despite a massive squad overhaul – which has seen them recruit 17 new players – they have started their campaign brightly.
“We know what is at stake,” added Campbell. “It’s the same thing at stake for both clubs and Kilmarnock have done very well.
“Talk is cheap and I won’t make any cheap talk. We have to stay focused and keep working hard because that has got us to where we are today.”
Meanwhile, Lichties keeper Derek Gaston has revealed how he has already been busy bantering with Killie’s Chris Burke – but hopes to have the last laugh on his next visit to Rugby Park.
Gaston is a regular at the Ayrshire club where he coaches Killie’s academy kids twice a week and has been joined in recent weeks by former Rangers and Scotland star Burke.
The pair have not been slow in sharing some friendly fire ahead of tonight’s clash – and Gaston admits he would love nothing more than to have some extra ammunition in which to wind-up Killie fans’ favourite Burke when they meet on coaching duty.
Gaston said: “I’ve been having a few laughs with Chris in the build-up to this game.
“We’ve enjoyed a bit of light-hearted banter.
“To be fair, I don’t think Chris and Kilmarnock will expect anything less than a really tough 90 minutes when they come to our place.
“Killie are a great club. Obviously, they were gutted to be relegated at the end of last season but when you look around the place it’s clear they are a club geared for the Premiership.
“And when you spend some time down there, you sense they are just desperate to get back up at the first attempt to where they feel they belong.
“I coach Tuesday and Thursday nights. I love it and there are some great prospects there.
“I know they’ll be tuning in to watch the game – although hopefully they don’t go too hard on me and point out what I should maybe have done better.
“As for Chris, I’m sure we’ll see a bit more of each other.
“He’s a nice guy who’s always very positive.
“If he’s there on Tuesday night, though, I just hope I’m the one still smiling with the bragging rights.”
Arbroath go into their televised showdown with Tommy Wright’s men in fine form having swept aside Queen of the South 2-0 at Palmerston last weekend to add further fuel to their impressive start to the Championship campaign.
And Gaston, 34, insists the in-form Angus outfit will not be giving the title favourites any extra incentive when they roll up at Gayfield.
He added: “We just want to keep the feel-good factor going for as long as possible. We’re aware of the fact that we haven’t lost since the opening day at home to Inverness.
“We know this unbeaten run will come to an end at some point. But it’s not something we intend to give up easily.
“It’s always special when you have a televised game under the floodlights. It adds a bit extra spice to the occasion and they don’t come much bigger than Killie at home.
“They’re rightly favourites to win the title. But we’ve proved time and again that we’re a match for anyone on our day.
“Killie have quality within their ranks but we’re focusing on ourselves so that we get the best chance to pick up three points.”
David Gold is suspended for the visit of Kilmarnock after his red card at Queen of the South last weekend, while Jason Thomson is still recovering from a knee operation.