Arbroath boss hails ‘outstanding’ result

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rbroath manager Dick Campbell has hailed his side’s 1-0 win over table-topping Kilmarnock as one of the best he’s ever seen in management.

A late Anton Dowds header ensured the Red Lichties returned to the Angus coast with all three points from their first visit to Rugby Park for 30 years.

Despite the narrow scoreline, the win was hardly snatched as the away side had several chances in the game and defended heroically.

The side looked composed on the ball, while keeper Derek Gaston also made a number of match-winning saves.

That team effort was enough for gaffer Dick Campbell to rank the result up there as one of the best in his 33-year managerial career.

Campbell, who is approaching 1,500 games in management, said: “They were outstanding today. Their work rate was outstanding. Their togetherness was outstanding. I’ve been 33 years as a manager, 12 games short of 1,500 as a coach and a manager, that’s in the top 10.

“I thought we came here and were convincing, I didn’t think we stole it, we deserved to win the game.”

The result narrows the gap at the top of the Championship, with just two points separating Kilmarnock at the top and Arbroath in fifth.

Despite their incredible start to the season, Campbell refused to be drawn into talk of Premiership play-offs, with his feet remaining firmly on the ground.

He said: “When it’s mathematically possible that we’re staying in the league, I’ll set out the next target for Arbroath.

“But don’t take anything away from the Arbroath players today. Their effort was incredible. They’re part-time remember, they’ve all got other jobs.”

The Arbroath boss was also full of praise for onloan Hearts youngster Chris Hamilton.

Campbell added: “I am absolutely delighted, especially for young Hamilton in the middle of the park. He won everything today, and he’s only 19 remember.”

Match-winner Dowds hailed the togetherness and spirit of the visiting team.

The striker, who just turned 25 last week, got ahead of his man and glanced the ball into the far corner of the net, sending the travelling support wild.

He said: “The boys had fought so hard for 60 minutes and the gaffer asked me to come on and try to hold it up and said my chance will come and thankfully I took it.

“Arbroath is a really tall side. It gets to the stage where somebody is going to be left against somebody who is a wee bit smaller. It was just a case of getting across the front and making sure if the ball came across I was the first to get there.”

Arbroath suffered a setback just moments before the goal when Michael Mckenna missed from the penalty spot.

The miss looked to have blown the chance of three points, but Dowds knew his side would get that one final chance.

He said: “It wasn’t like Mikey’s penalty came out of nowhere.

“We had opportunities and we knew we just had to go again.

“Mikey has been brilliant and he’s scored an unbelievable amount of goals so far this season.

“It was a case of ‘we go again, we’ll get another chance’ and thankfully we did.”

WINNER: Kilmarnock players look dejected as Arbroath celebrate Anton Dowds’ late goal at Rugby Park.