The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Tentative team to be transformed, says Campbell
Arbroath boss Dick Campbell insists his “tentative” team will be transformed in the second leg of their play-off semi-final against Dumbarton today.
The Red Lichties travel west looking to overturn a one-goal deficit after they were beaten 2-1 by the Sons on Wednesday night at Gayfield, with Craig Barr scoring an injury-time winner for Stephen Aitken’s side.
Campbell thought his team deserved at least a share of the spoils.
However, the veteran manager insists there are grounds to be very optimistic at the halfway stage of the contest.
Campbell points to his side’s excellent away record this season – 10 wins on the road in League 1 – and believes their Championship opponents are no longer an unknown quantity to his players.
“We were obviously disappointed that we could not take something from the game on Wednesday night,” he said.
“There was a good crowd in to support us and they will have been as gutted as us when Dumbarton scored in injury time.
“It was a real hammer blow, especially as we had chances of our own.
“However, it is only half-time in the tie, so to speak, and there is still everything to play for at Dumbarton.”
Campbell added: “When you play a team from a higher division for the first time, there is always that element of the unknown.
“I felt that showed with my players on Wednesday as they were a bit tentative against the Championship side.
“They certainly will not be tentative on Saturday.
“They have now seen and played Dumbarton so they know they are more than capable of winning the second leg.
“We have a fabulous away record this season and we will go to Dumbarton with no fear. I am very optimistic we can turn this around, and we will be going there to have a real go.
“We have had a good season so far and we are still determined it will be a fantastic one for Arbroath.”
Campbell has a full squad to choose from, and one big selection decision to make.
“Our captain Mark Whatley was struggling a bit on Wednesday and was only on the bench. He is fine now so I have to decide whether to bring him back into the starting line-up,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dumbarton boss Aitken is not entertaining any thoughts of his side already having one foot in the play-off final after Wednesday night’s 2-1 win at Arbroath.
He said: “We cannot be complacent at all as Arbroath are a side that know their way to goal.
“We will look to grab the first goal and see how that influences the game. If we get it their spirit may drop; whereas if they get it, they will get a lift.”
Barr drops out after the appeal against his sending off against Dunfermline last Saturday that allowed him to play and score the winner on Wednesday was unsuccessful.
Dougie Hill is available after a ban, while Calum Gallagher is expected to shake off a knock and be available.