Red Lichties skipper shows the way to trap the Spiders
With another surprise result in a crazy season, Arbroath dented Queen’s Park’s hopes of taking a firmer grip on the title with their 1-0 win at Ochilview.
Match-winner, Dale Hilson, believes that the news that Red Lichties skipper, Thomas O’Brien, has committed his longterm future to the club is already helping keep Dick Campbell’s side in the Championship.
O’Brien penned a new fiveyear deal just hours before Hilson scored late on to lift Dick Campbell’s up to eighth.
The goal-grabber reckons that O’Brien has shown his teammates that he is more than up for the relegation fight.
Hilson said: “Tam is our captain, and is a big, big player for us. He has been hugely-influential member in our dressing-room for a number of years.
“The fact that he has committed his long-term future to the club sends a message to us.
“It shows leadership when your captain is willing to stay and fight. He’s showing the way.”
The game was won when Hilson pounced on a mistake by Spiders defender, Stephen Eze, to run clear and produce a clinical finish just seven minutes after coming off the bench.
But the 30-year-old believes that his side’s defensive display was just as crucial.
“The team were magnificent all over the park before I came on, and when I came on,” said Hilson.
“You just need to be patient, and when you get a chance, you’ve got to take it.
“Thankfully, I’ve managed to get the team get three points – but it’s all about the team, not me.
“Their defender made a slight mistake and I got the break of the ball. I never had much time to think about the finish, and that helped me.
“However, look at our defence. They were blocking everything Queen’s Park threw at them.
“I watched it from the sidelines, and I was cheering their blocks almost like we’d scored.
“Tam and Lewis Banks made two unbelievable goal-line clearances, and they were just as important as my goal.”
The Spiders would have moved seven points clear of Dundee, but they paid the price for missing chances, especially in the first half.
However, captain Tommy Robson remains pleased that their title fate remains in their own hands.
He said: “It doesn’t matter what any other teams do, it’s up to us.
“If we win games, then wherever we end up, we’ll end up. But we don’t need to worry about other teams.
“We have just got to worry about ourselves. Our reaction now is important.
“The one thing I know about the squad is from Monday to Friday, they work very hard. And every time we have had a disappointing result, we have always bounced back.
“So I have every faith in the boys that they’ll work hard to put it right at Raith Rovers on Saturday.”