Campbell continues to look over shoulder despite form upturn

In-form Arbroath host Queen of the South today and a win for the Lichties would put a Championship promotion play-off place in sight for Dick Campbell’s side.

The Gayfield manager, however, is still adopting a ‘safety first’ approach.

When the sides last met on January 16 the game was classed as a relegation battle with Arbroath sitting bottom of the table and the Dumfries men only two places above them.

Despite taking 15 points from an available 21 since then and moving to within three points of fourth-placed Dundee and their visitors, Campbell remains only interested in ensuring Championship football next season.

Campbell explained: “We have been on a tremendous run which looks to have turned our season around.

“Queen of the South have been on a run just as good and this is now a mid-table clash

“This is a big game as both sides will want to show that they are the one with the most momentum and the one that has improved most since January.

“I am looking for us to win, but not to bolster promotion hopes, I am looking for a win to keep a gap on the teams below us.

“There really is very little between the majority of clubs in this league and if you lose focus on what you are trying to do you can slip a few places really quickly.”

Arbroath go into the game on the back of a 1-0 win at Ayr with Campbell adding: “My challenge to the players is to simply keep it going. I am not planning many changes as there is not a lot needing fixed just now.”

On-loan Dundee United defender Jake Davidson is fit again after nearly two months out with a groin injury, but Luke Donnelly and Gavin Swankie are still out with long-term injuries.