Douglas delight at clean sheet

VETERAN keeper Rab Douglas has sympathy for the dropped David Hutton after he replaced him in a surprise return to action at Hampden for Arbroath.

Gayfield manager Dick Campbell opted to bring Douglas in as he was unhappy with some of the goals his side conceded recently.

And the former Dundee, Celtic and Scotland shotstopper kept a clean sheet as the Lichties ran out 2-0 winners over Queen’s Park in League One.

Douglas, 45, said: “It does not matter if you are 18 or 45, getting a clean sheet at Hampden is brilliant.

“This is my third stint helping Arbroath out and I didn’t think I would ever play but there was a discussion this week and I knew what the manager was thinking.”

He added: “I was gutted for David as it is the one position where you cannot play anywhere else. It has happened to me but he was only one of four changes that were made.

“It is the loneliest place in the world when you make a mistake, and I have a black belt in making them,” he said.

“I am going to savour this game and not just because of the clean sheet. It could be my last one. Arbroath are a great club with good people so I am pleased that I have finally been able to help them.”

Hutton is set to be recalled next weekend against Berwick Rangers in the Scottish Cup as Douglas has a prior commitment.

Goals i n the 20th and 56th minutes from Gavin Swankie and Colin Hamilton saw Arbroath to victory.

Campbell said: “The first goal was a great goal where we showed a lot of quality.

“Big Rab did not have a save to make and we were comfortable winners.”

Rab Douglas, 45, played for Arbroath on Saturday.