And a Happy New Year to you too, Rab

Arbroath manager Dick Campbell went through a range of emotions in Inverness yesterday before his side pulled off a surprise victory in the Caledonian Stadium. That was the signal for a warm handshake with his goalkeeping coach, Rab Douglas.

Dick Campbell last night laughed off talk of an incredible Arbroath promotion push – and insisted survival remains his only focus.

The Red Lichties boss saw Luke Donnelly claim a deserved win away to second-top Caley Thistle to move just three points below the top four play-off zone.

The hapless Highlanders managed only one serious attempt at goal after huffing and puffing unimpressively at a blustery Caledonian Stadium.

Arbroath were only denied a more handsome win by three superb Mark Ridgers saves.

But Campbell insisted: “I’m not bothering my backside about looking up the table.

“I’m only interested in the two that will hopefully finish below us at the end of the season. Then, we can keep developing the club.

“Four years ago, Arbroath had fallen off the bottom of The Sporting Post.

“Now we’ve got money in the bank and we’re up two leagues, so I’m not getting carried away with it. We deserved to win the game and I felt we could have scored more today.”

Arbroath frustrated the hosts through a scoreless first half low on opportunities.

Their one first half chance saw a tremendous Miko Virtanen pass split the home defence on the left. Bobby Linn raced on to it, but keeper Mark Ridgers blocked the angled attempt.

But the second half was less than two minutes old when Arbroath struck.

A fine passing move had the home defence chasing shadows and ended with Bobby Linn’s low ball across for Luke Donnelly to flick home a finish from four yards out.

The hosts had the ball in the net after 64 minutes after a fine move, but Miles Storey’s easy finish from Doran’s cross and Shaun Rooney’s knock-down was ruled off-side.

It was Arbroath who should have extended their lead when Michael Mckenna’s cutback found David Gold square on goal. But Ridgers blocked superbly after Gold’s weak stab.

Ridgers then made a tremendous tip over the bar from substitute Greig Spence’s header.