Red Lichties showing ‘no fear’ as they bid to topple leaders Killie

Arbroath manager Dick Campbell reckons his side have nothing to fear ahead of facing league leaders Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

The Red Lichties boss, who was among the attendees at a memorial service in Glasgow for his long-time friend Walter Smith yesterday, says his team will “have a go” against Tommy Wright’s men.

Arbroath head to Ayrshire sitting in fifth spot – and just five points behind Killie who lead the way at the top.

Campbell said: “It says a lot about our progress that if we had won against Queen of the South last week, we could have been in with a chance of going top with a win over Kilmarnock, who are obviously a massive club and will be big favourites to win the division.

“It would be a difficult game for anyone going down there to face the team who are only just down from the Premiership on their own pitch, but it is one we are looking forward to.

“It will not be an easy game but we will head down there and have a good go.

“When the league fixtures came out at the start of the season, it was one of the ones that all the players looked at and thought wow, we are looking forward to that.

“We drew 0-0 with them at our place and could have beaten them, so we don’t go into the game with any fears. But we will not be getting carried away. Survival is still our aim.

“We know Tommy Wright will have them well organised but we have had them watched two or three times and want to keep our good run of late going.”

Campbell will likely have to do without the services of forward Dale Hilson, who is in a moon boot after picking up a knock, with Nicky Low also not yet up to full speed.

As reported in The Courier earlier in the week, hundreds of Lichties fans are due to make the trip, which will be Arbroath’s first visit to Kilmarnock since January 26 1991.

And Campbell believes his side will receive a boost from a sizeable travelling support from Angus.

He said: “The Kilmarnock game is massive. On paper, they are favourites to win the league. They are a big club with big expectations and it won’t be an easy game at all.

“But we are bringing a healthy crowd down with us.

“We’ve already got two busloads of fans booked to travel and I’m expecting there will be a

few hundred Arbroath fans at Rugby Park.

“We’re in fifth but it’s crazy to think that – had we beaten Queen of the South last weekend – then we’d be travelling with a chance to go top.”

Dick Campbell is relaxed ahead of the trip to Killie.