Battle Lines are Drawn

Dick Campbell's table toppers come North on Saturday with the Battle Lines now clearly defined as Partick Thistle ease into third place in the table. Saturday's game is a 3:00pm start at the Caledonian Stadium and we are now anxiously looking over our shoulder at fellow bottlers Raith Rovers who remain one point behind in the battle for fourth.

MATCH/TICKET/STREAMING INFO

OFFICIAL PREVIEW

0 - 0 (A)

0 - 1 (H)

1 - 0 (A)

1 - 0 (H)

1 - 1 (A)

3 - 1 (H)

0 - 1 (H)

0 - 3 (A)

2 - 1 (H)

0 - 3 (H)

Honours even over the last ten meetings but it's clear to see that the pendulum is swinging more towards the Smokies or does it just feel like that given our demise of late. Gone are the days of 7-0 thrashings and giving teams a three goal start. Mind you, gone are the days of Bon Accord...

FRIDAY 11TH MARCH 19:45

Ayr United v Kilmarnock

SATURDAY 12TH MARCH 15:00

    Hamilton v Dunfermline

Inverness v Arbroath  

Morton v Partick

Queens v Rovers

With Partick Thistle beating Queen of the South 1-0 on Tuesday night, they are also making a late run for promotion and they still have a game in hand against Dunfermline. Unfortunately that also means that they are clear in third and we appear to be left with a battle on our hands against fellow flops Raith Rovers in the last chance saloon. Bid Ayrshire derby on Friday night as a resurgent Ayr United will fancy their chances against a Killie side they beat recently. For us, we will be looking for others to help out, as we have done for the last three months. There are still twenty four points up for grabs over the final eight games. However, our last eight games have yielded just four points. Yes, only 4 points. That is an abysmal stat during a run of eleven games without a win.

One win apiece and a 0-0 draw in a stiff breeze at Gayfield last time we met. Benn tight affairs this season and it would be no surprise if this one is the same. My bet is that confidence will play a big part, and we certainly lack that at present.

Last time out

We performed poorly at Partick going down to a late Kevin Holt strike after a corner. The game was played out on a midden with plenty of chances going abegging and thanks to a lack of quality only one shot on target allegedly. Poor return from nineteen strikes of the ball. Arbroath edged out Dunfermline 1-0 thanks to an early strike from David Gold. That win kept Arbroath at the top and as a result Dunfermline are bottom with a game in hand.

Latest Team News

Allardice out for season, Roddy MacGregor just a distant memory, Welsh recovering on our bench last couple of games; other than that a full squad allegedly.

Arbroath last line up and subs played:

Gaston; Stewart, Little, O’Brien, Colin Hamilton, Chris Hamilton, Gold (Craigen 69), McKenna, Linn (Thomson 47), Henderson (Hilson 75), Jack Hamilton (Donnelly 85)

Eric the Stat has this latest info on the Smokies since January.

Departures

Dylan Paterson - midfield on loan to Stirling Albion FC for the rest of the season

Harrison Clark - end of loan period from Livingstone for the midfielder

Joel Nouble - Influential in the 2nd January away fixture the Centre Forward has returned to Livingstone after his loan spell at Gayfield

Anton Dowds - The centre forward was on loan from Falkirk FC, ended in the January window.

Additions

Arbroath have added to their front line options with three Centre Forward players joining in the transfer period.

Craig Wighton - On loan from Dunfermline Athletic for the rest of this season

Sam Ford - arrived from Felixstowe FC on a free transfer

Michael Bakare - left the "Non League Premier" side Leatherhead FC in January and joined Arbroath in February