Lichties out to ‘kick on’ and realise promotion dream

Arbroath boss Dick Campbell is determined his players will kick on in what remains of the season and realise their promotion dream.

The Red Lichties are currently sitting in fourth place in the League 1 table, with Stranraer leapfrogging them into third following last week’s results.

Arbroath could only draw at Airdrie and Campbell is looking for his side to get back to winning ways against Albion Rovers today.

Their manager Brian Kerr will be without star striker Connor Shields who joined Sunderland earlier this week, while the Angus side will have new signing Michael McKenna, who joined from Berwick for a small fee on Monday, in their squad.

However, Campbell is taking nothing for granted against a team that has already beaten his side 4-1 at Gayfield this season.

The manager said: “I think it was a good point for us last week at a tough place to go to.

“I never felt we would ever lose, but it is a different ball game this week at home to Albion Rovers.

“They have lost someone who I believe was their best player in Connor Shields to Sunderland, but it is all about us and what we do.

“Unfortunately Ryan McCord injured his hamstring in training this week and will be out for three weeks.

“I am gutted for the lad as he has only just got back into the team.

“I have a decision to make about our new signing Michael McKenna but I think he will play.

“Albion Rovers beat us 4-1 at Gayfield earlier this season so you could say we have a point or two to prove.

“However, while focused on the game I am equally determined that we will kick on in the second half of the season.

“There are still a lot of points to play for and nothing has been decided yet.

“It is still tight in the play-off spots but we will look to build some momentum starting against Albion Rovers.”

Josh Skelly will return to the Arbroath squad after a lengthy lay-off through injury. James Vincent hopes to thrive on the love he already feels at Dunfermline after being given the cold shoulder at Dundee.

The Englishman has been welcomed with open arms at East End Park, with supporters revelling in his role in breaking the hearts of bitter rivals Falkirk in the 2015 Scottish Cup final.

Vincent’s cup-winning goal for Inverness Caley Thistle has ensured he has already won over some Pars fans – without playing – since making his loan switch from Dundee this week.

The 28-year-old admits he was relieved to finally put an end to his Dens Park disappointment after finding himself frozen out of Neil McCann’s first-team plans this term.

The midfielder, who made the last of this season’s five appearances for Dundee in September, said: “I first heard about Dunfermline’s interest just after Christmas time, but it just dragged outalittlelongerthanwewouldhaveliked. “But I was always happy to come here. “I wanted to come here and get playing some football, so I’m glad it finally all got sorted.

“It’s frustrating not to have played much this season. I don’t really feel like I’ve been given a chance this season at my club and I think the manager there would say the same thing as well.

“It’s just one of those things – he’s brought in a number of players and he’s gone with them.

“Sometimes you find yourself out and that’s football – it is what it is.

“For some reason, I started against Aberdeen and Hibs and the next week I was in the stand.

“It was one of them where I didn’t have a full reason or anything, but sometimes you judge a situation in football and you go one way or the other.

“I dealt with it and I always trained hard and worked hard and did what I needed to do for myself and I accepted that I needed to move on – and I’m happy that this is the next stage.”

Vincent was joined by Sunderland midfielder Tom Beadling and Wolves

Picture: SNS Group. James Vincent: delighted to move to the Pars in a bid to revive his career after being frozen out at Dens.