The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Write Red Lichties off at your peril, says boss
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ick Campbell insists Arbroath are just two points off their target for the season – but believes it would be foolhardy to write off the Angus side.
Arbroath extended their unbeaten run to 12 games with a hard-fought draw with second-placed side Inverness.
But while Campbell is refusing to see beyond his survival target of 40 points, he admits his team should be written off at your peril.
“Any fool who is prepared to write Arbroath off knows nothing about football,” said Campbell.
“We’re a working-class unit.
“I’m not really bothering my backside if we’re top four.
“I’m not here to do that. “We’ve got another two points to stay in the league and that is our objective.
“I’m not sitting here and talking about play-offs.
“I couldn’t care less if we get in the play-off.
“I’m not bothering my backside. I wouldn’t say being ‘under the radar’ is the right phrase.
“There was a report in one of the papers yesterday and six reporters talked about the Championship and never mentioned Arbroath. I pinned it to the dressing room wall and mentioned to the players before the game.
“You need a cause, don’t you? Everybody thinks because you’re part-time you are a set of monkeys.
“We’re not a set of monkeys. We’re a good team and a good unit.”
Inverness boss Billy Dodds went a stage further than Campbell, insisting the Angus side can “go the distance”.
“Anybody who writes Arbroath off is off their head,” said Dodds.
“We beat them on the opening day of the season here and they’ve only lost one since. If you want to write them off after that – or if anyone does – then they’re crazy. They’ve still only been beaten twice this season, once from us in the first game.
“So they are going to go the whole distance, I think.
“I’m not sure if they are losing one or two players on loan. But they have re-signed the big striker up front from Livi (Jack Hamilton) so they will be there. Maybe some other people are writing Arbroath off, I’m certainly not.”
Caley Thistle have a decent record at Gayfield, unbeaten in seven games here, and before losing to Accies last month they had won three on the spin, against Queen of the South, Kilmarnock and Morton.
The wind was blowing rough from the start and David Gold and Jon Nouble linked up well early on, with July’s match-winner Shane Sutherland alert at the other end.
It was tough for both sides and ICT midfielder Scott Allardice was frustrated further when he was booked for a late challenge on Dowds.
Caley Jags defender Kirk Broadfoot tried his luck from distance, using the wind as an aid, but Derek Gaston was equal to it.
Then Allardice forced Gaston to tip the ball over the top when he swerved a shot on target.
Arbroath soon enjoyed a good spell and Nouble cut in from the left side and his drive was gathered by Mark Ridgers.
There was an immediate response from ICT and Doran flashed a shot just around the far post.
Yet, the hosts had the bit between their teeth and Colin Hamilton found space in the penalty area, but his finish had too much height to test Ridgers.
In the last chance of note before the break, Nouble gathered the ball on the edge of the box and drew a fine stop from Ridgers with a shot from the edge of the box.
Arbroath pressed early on in the second half, but bodies blocked a Mckenna cross and a Thomas O’brien snap shot.
The Gayfield side were having the best of the play and almost took the lead on 58 minutes when a smart Nouble pass picked out Craigen 10 yards out and he slid a low effort inches beyond the right post.
Ten minutes later, it was Inverness cursing their luck as a Tom Walsh cutback was collected by David Carson and his searing 20-yarder skimmed the left post before going out.
Arbroath had the ball in the net moments later when sub Jack Hamilton lashed the ball past Ridgers – but the offside flag denied him instant glory.
That was as close as there was to a winner and it remained as you were at full-time within the top three.