Studious Lichties are ready for Thistle test

Arbroath manager Dick Campbell hopes the lessons he and his players have learned in the Championship so far this season will help them against visitors Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The Lichties boss said: “We bounced back to winning ways last Saturday against Alloa after losing to Dunfermline in midweek.

“The Dunfermline game was a lesson for me as I made changes to a team that had won games against Morton and then Partick Thistle before that.

“I should have left things as they were. I didn’t, and we paid the price.

“I reckon I will be going for the settled approach for this one.”

Campbell is also of the opinion that losing 2-1 late on to Caley Thistle in their first meeting this season back in August helped educate his players.

He explained: “That was a sore afternoon as we had gone there and got ourselves into the lead. They equalised just before the break, however we looked good for a point until they scored four minutes from time.

“We do not have a lot of players who have played at this level before, however we have players who are willing to learn.

“Apart from a hiccup at Dundee United they have become better at closing games out, as we showed against Morton and then Alloa in our last two home games where there was only one goal between the teams.

“Inverness are a good side who can hurt you both through open play and at set pieces. They are a big side and we have to be able to deal with that side of things. They are also coming here disappointed at losing to the leaders Dundee United last weekend.

“They will be determined to make us pay for that but if we put into practice what we have learned then we will do OK.”

Gavin Swankie is the only absentee as the attacker is not yet match fit following a groin operation.

Arbroath boss Dick Campbell has learned his lesson.