Lichties manager looking for side to kick on at Firhill

Dick Campbell says Arbroath don’t fear any other team in Championship

Arbroath manager Dick Campbell has looked back on the first quarter of the Championship season and declared there is a “coat of paint” between all the clubs.

The Lichties have more than held their own in the division after winning promotion and Campbell insists they don’t fear any other team.

The Angus men travel to Firhill to face Ian McCall’s Partick Thistle side, who will be on a high after scoring five times in the final five minutes against Dundee at Dens Park last weekend.

However, Arbroath will also carry momentum into the game this afternoon after securing a terrific 1-0 victory over Greenock Morton at Gayfield last time out.

Campbell said: “That is us past the nine-game mark now and I can honestly say that we are not worried about facing any team in this league.

“There is a coat of paint between them all and I mean that.

“What you really notice is the difference getting three points makes because the table is so tight.

“All I am concerned about moving forward from here is my own team and how we are shaping up.

“We got a very good result against Morton and are looking to kick on again.

“We are going to Partick this weekend but we will be looking forward to going to Firhill.

“Personally, going away from home doesn’t bother me. I actually enjoy it.

“We will take a few hundred fans down to Glasgow and hopefully give them all something to shout about.

“I imagine a club like Thistle, who had a good result just like we did, will be looking to win their home games but we won’t mind taking them on down there.”

Campbell reported that Gavin Swankie is returning to light training and could be available in a couple of weeks’ time.

Partick Thistle’s Lewis Mansell wants to see the bottom-of-the-table Jags build on last week’s win over Dundee at Dens.

The striker grabbed his first goal of the season, the last of Partick’s late three-goal burst, last week and followed up with the only goal of the game in a closed-doors friendly during the week.

Now Mansell is hoping to take that form into today’s game as Thistle look to grab back-to-back league wins for the first time this season and move off the foot of the table.

Mansell said: “If I can help the team in any way possible then that is the main thing but on a personal note it’s good to finally hit the back of the net this season and hopefully I can carry that on and try to get some more to help the team get some more points.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a league game or a friendly, to me it doesn’t matter what type of game you are playing, a goal is a goal.

“Getting back-to-back goals really put my confidence up so I’m feeling great going into Saturday and hoping to grab another goal.”

Arbroath manager Dick Campbell says there is a coat of paint between all the clubs in the division.