CAMPBELL SAVOURS ARBROATH WIN

DICK CAMPBELL vowed Arbroath will not be the Championship’s whipping boys after relishing the club’s first second-tier victory in almost 17 years.

Last season’s runaway League One winners won the battle of the parttimers as they brushed Alloa aside all too easily thanks to Bobby Linn’s 17th-minute strike.

Midfielder James Murphy also hit the post after the break and any hopes the Wasps had of a late comeback disappeared when Steven Hetherington picked up his second booking and a red card 13 minutes from time.

‘It was great to get our first win to get off and running,’ said Campbell.

‘People think ourselves and Alloa will be fodder for the others, but that’s not going to be the case.

‘We’ve earned the right to be in this league and we’ll have a go at everyone.’

Linn netted for the second successive league match to indicate he can emulate the 23 goals he scored last season. The 33-year-old slid home an excellent Greig Spence through ball and was a dangerous attacking threat throughout.

Alloa, without the guiding presence of suspended skipper Andy Graham for the first time in an incredible 87 matches, stuck too rigidly to their play-from-theback philosophy and Arbroath’s game-plan worked a treat.

The Angus men were comfortable from start to finish.

‘When we move the ball quickly we look a good side,’ said Alloa manager Peter Grant. ‘But when we take too many touches, like everybody else, we become an ordinary side.’