The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Mind games deliver precious Gold strike
D1 1 avid Gold has revealed how Arbroath’s crucial equaliser was several days in the making.
Gold netted his first strike for the Red Lichties since March after making a darting run into the box to get on the end of Daniel Fosu’s cutback and smash the ball home.
The utility man – who has played in almost every position for the Gayfield side including goalkeeper – did extra homework ahead of playing in a more advanced role against Morton.
“I’m always thinking about my game and selfreflecting,” said Gold. “I’m continually striving to improve.
“This week I was thinking about how I haven’t been able to get into the box enough to make an impact on goal.
“It’s not always my job because I’ve played in various positions for Arbroath but when I’m out wide I want to make an impact in the penalty area.
“I told myself the other day that if I had a chance to make a run into the box and get on the end of a cross then I had to take it.
“One day I was thinking about what runs I could make, the next I was making the run and scoring. It’s brilliant to get a goal.”
Gold is determined Arbroath build on the point and help the club climb the table.
And while there will almost certainly be new arrivals in the January transfer window, Gold is convinced there is a core group of players already at Gayfield who can make that happen.
“It’s not been a good season for us this year in terms of results,” added Gold.
“A lot of people have been comparing it to last year but it’s a totally different situation.
“We’ve lost something like 10 or 12 players. There has been a complete change and, at times, it hasn’t been good enough.
“But I don’t think we have been a million miles away from it. If you look at our changing room there is a lot of good players there.
“We have a lot of talent in our squad and it’s up to us as players to show that.
“People would be silly or naive to write us off. We are second bottom right now but a lot can happen between now and May.”
Arbroath have struggled for goals this term.
And they have made no secret of the fact they will be shopping for attacking reinforcements in January.
But they stepped on the gas from the start with Scott Allan’s low drive testing Morton keeper Brain Schwake.
Efe Ambrose then nodded a Tam O’brien effort off the line as Arbroath turned the heat on the Ton defence.
But Morton always looked lively on the break and Ricky Little had to be alert to block a Lewis Strapp effort on the line.
Arbroath were dealt a huge blow as Scott Bitsindou came off injured on the half hour mark.
That injury knocked the stuffing out of the Lichties with Lewis Mcgrattan allowed too much space to break from midfield and drive low beyond Derek Gaston for the opener.
Assistant boss Ian Campbell, meanwhile, insists the team are ready to battle their way to Championship survival after underlining his side’s credentials during a fans’ Q&A at last week.
“We are battling like hell and there’s a lot more to come from us,” said Campbell.
“Can we play a lot better than that? Of course we can. We are still a bit away from the team we can be but the foundations of a good side are teamwork, work ethic and you saw that in abundance.
“The Championship is characterised by first-class defenders and hard teams to beat.
“It’s a hard league but I think we are up for the challenge.”
Morton boss Dougie Imrie was adamant his side should have had a penalty.
Jack Baird’s header was blocked by Ricky Little with Imrie adamant it struck the Arbroath defender’s arm.
“We had good chances but how my team don’t get a penalty is baffling,” said Imrie.
“I’ve already seen the referee to ask for his explanation. He said his hands weren’t in an unnatural position.
“It’s a poor, poor decision. Nothing will be said, it will be move on and that’s just life.”