Arbroath home April2024

[tm4tj]

It's Now or Never

 

That's what Elvis used to say. We are in deep trouble up to our necks with no signs that we can turn this around. Defeat to Arbroath could be the final nail in our coffin with only fifteen points available to us ahead of this game. The play-offs are looking more likely by the minute, but it's not beyond the realms of possibilty that automatic relegation is still an option should Arbroath beat us on Saturday. With the long suffering fans rapidly losing faith in Big Dunc, it's crunch time as Arbroath head North to the venue they won at the last time they were here. Sadly they come to the Caledonian Stadium off the back of a 2-1 midweek defeat to Airdrie, and we could all but relegate them on Saturday with a win. However, that's nothing to gloat about as we could be next...

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Match/Ticket Info

Bring a friend for £5

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Venue - H2H v Arbroath

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	25	17	4	4	60	21	+39
Away	25	11	7	7	36	30	+6
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	50	28	11	11	96	51	+45

Big advantage to us at home over the years, but there's a different feel about our squad this season. Many feel it's the worst squad we have ever had. There's no hiding place now, it's time to stand up and be counted. We lost our last home game against Arbroath, and that gives many of us the fear given our struggles to score goals and turn things around. The 3-2 win at Gayfield was Ferguson's first game in charge. To be honest, it's been downhill shortly after the new manager bounce wore off. 

Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Arbroath

1 - 1 (A)

1 - 2 (H)

3 - 2 (A)

2 - 4 (A)

2 - 0 (H)

4 - 1 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

0 - 0 (A)

0 - 0 (A)

0 - 0 (H)

Should we need one, here's a reminder of our last home game against Arbroath: 1 - 2  Looking Down:  With both sides losing in midweek, this game took on more significance for Big Dunc's side and Jim McIntyre was also looking to get away from the bottom of the table after he replaced Dick Campbell. David Wotherspoon was fit enough to start and good to see Keith Bray return to the squad alongside Robbie Thompson. Arbroath came North with only four on the bench with Michael McKenna and Ricky Little still out injured and O'Brien suspended. As it turned out we are now looking down the table instead of up after back to back defeats to the two teams who were below us only four days ago as Arbroath won 2-1. That was new manager Jim McIntyre's first win and it moves Arbroath off the bottom of the table. one point behind Inverness. All the goals came in the first half from Jay Bird, Billy Mckay and two minutes later David Gold. Looks like a few will be going cheap in the January sales.

Last Time Out

After an encouraging point at Tannadice we were looking for more of the same at Firhill. Alas we went down to the only goal of the game from Robinson to leave us staring into the Abyss. We gave as good as we got at Firhill but that age olde problem of not scoring goals was evident once more. To add insult to injury Cammy Kerr was red-carded after an hour although we will be appealing this decision as his first booking for simulation seemed unwarranted, therefore his red card could be rescinded. Last Five: W D L D L 

Arbroath have lost twice over the last week. Defeat by Partick Thistle last weekend was quickly followed by a 2-1 loss at home to Airdrieonians on Tuesday night. Jay Bird hit a late consolation for the Smokies and Leighton McIntosh saw his penalty saved just before the interval. However two second half strikes from Fordyce and McGill were enough to give Airdrie all three points in a game they pretty much dominated, and that's five defeats on the bounce for Arbroath. Last Five: L L L L L 

Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts 1. Dundee Utd 31 18 8 5 59 21 62 Heading to the Premiership 2. Raith Rovers 30 17 7 6 49 38 58   3. Partick Thistle 31 13 10 8 57 49 49 4. Airdrieonians 30 12 6 12 36 35 42 5. Dunfermline 31 11 8 12 37 41 41 6. Morton 30 11 7 12 37 34 40 7. Ayr United 30 11 5 14 43 54 38 8. Queens Park 31 9 9 13 43 50 36 Below here you are in the play-off and also Fecked 9. Inverness CT 31 7 11 13 34 36 32 Below here you are definitely Fecked 10. Arbroath 31 6 5 20 33 70 23

      Saturday 6th April

• Airdrie v Morton
•  Dunfermline v Partick Thistle
• Inverness CT v Arbroath FC  
• Queen's Park v Dundee Utd  
• Raith Rovers v Ayr United   

Latest Team News

Cammy Kerr has had his first yellow card rescinded which in turn makes his second yellow (still stands) and the subsequent red card that followed null and void. The correct decision and Cammy will be available for selection this weekend. However, it does not get us back the points that we may have got as a result of his sending off. In saying that, we performed better with ten men. 

Big Dunc said: So, this weekend we need to treat it like an away game. With that in mind the team will leave the Caledonian Stadium at 09:00 on Saturday morning and go for a three hour run in a D&E bus, returning at 12:00 to prepare for the game where we will start with just ten men. Ferguson said in his press conference that "this could be key to our survival and we will give it a go, won't we. We were excellent, we're no in trouble yet but it's getting close, isn't it".   

Carragher and Ujdur have picked up a sickness bug and will need to be assessed. Other than that no major changes expected.

Here's what he actually said>>>

 

Looks like the Smokies time in the Championship is up even if they avoid defeat on Saturday. They have had some great results in their five season stint in the Championship and have proven to be difficult to beat at times, especially at home. However, all good things come to an end. Five defeats in a row since they beat Raith Rovers 3-2 on the 1st of March has them 9 points adrift at the foot of the table and heading into League 1. With a massive minus goal difference of -37 that's worth another point and I can't  see even the Caley Jags throwing that away over five games........ fingers crossed

Arbroath team on Tuesday night v Airdrie

Boruc

 

Walker   Teale   Little   Lyon

 

Gold   Mackinnon (Slater 66)

 

Stewart   McKenna (Bird 67)   Dow (Stowe 77)

 

McIntosh (Robinson 77)

 

Subs Not Used: Gaston; Steele, Jacobs, Murray, Dünnwald-Turan

 

It's not that I don't have any friends. It's just that nobody wants to come and watch this dross 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Robert]

They should follow your suggestion of the three hour bus journey!!

The forecast is for wind tomorrow which hopefully doesn’t make the game a lottery.

We need to go for it from the first whistle and shoot on sight.

It’s now or never for saving our season. 

Edited April 5 by Robert

[Yngwie]

We are better than Arbroath, we can win this and set our sights on 8th place.

[bdu98196]

Fever pitch excitement over this but we are going absolutely batter these fish lovers.

2-0 with Billy finding his shooting boots at the right time to bag a hat-trick

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

[IBM]

Nice day for the game apart from the wind which Arbroath will be more used to.  Let's get a home win please!

[+DoofersDad]

The wind should be a great leveler.  We may actually get something out of the game.

[tm4tj]

 

[bdu98196]

38 minutes ago, DoofersDad said:

The wind should be a great leveler.  We may actually get something out of the game.

Now expect the Arbroath keeper to score direct from a goal kick without the ball touching the ground

[robbo1985]

Wind blowing right down the pitch into the north stand ... Let's change round if we win the toss and we might have a chance of scoring the first goal .

Even the sprinklers are blowing in! Let's hope someone noticed in the warm up!

Edited April 6 by robbo1985

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

Duffy Dog nets but please tell me we are with the gale now

[BobbyDazzler]

Wallace Duffy

Edited April 6 by BobbyDazzler

[bdu98196]

Ball moving about wildly in the wind, we hit the bar in the first few mins, so rather than just pepper the goals with shots all half we continue to form with tepid tippy tippy ****

Not convinced a single goal will be enough fighting against the wind

[robbo1985]

1 minute ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

Duffy Dog nets but please tell me we are with the gale now

No, they took my advice and swapped round so we were shooting with the wind behind us first half..... It's not as blustery now... 

[+DoofersDad]

We’ve been the dominant team but may regret only scoring one with the wind behind us. 

[Naelifts]

Samuel!!

[Yngwie]

FT 2-1. Phew!

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

[Naelifts]

14 shots 10 on target

[Yngwie]

Attempts on goal 14-1 is a pretty impressive stat. Have we improved or was it because we were playing a really poor side?

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

1 minute ago, Yngwie said:

Attempts on goal 14-1 is a pretty impressive stat. Have we improved or was it because we were playing a really poor side?

 

[mazza20]

Great 3 points, and glad we didn't crumble when they equalised.

Only saw the second half, but I feel we're coming to regret letting Welsh go. We sit with the ball between 3 CBs and no midfielder is dropping deep to collect and push play forward. We spent the 25 mins of that half just launching balls long into the wind, if we're going to do that, lose a CM and have another striker up top. Once they went down to 10 men we pushed forward and we're able to create a few things.

Positives though, we've scored more than one, thought the defence handled what was thrown at them for the most part, and Big Dunc started with a win Arbroath so here's hoping for another hot streak

[Douglas Mackenzie]

I was worried we didn't manage to make the most of the wind on our side first half. Thought we might collapse when they equalised,but credit to boys for holding on.

The first period of second half we lost our way and I think the sending off changed things.

What a cracker by Samuel who was easy the best player on the park.

I thought we could have got fresh legs on sooner.

I think that is our 3rd home win this season which is not good enough to be honest but let's be delighted that for once other results went our way.

What a big game next week is going to be.

[Yngwie]

Notable that McGregor was overlooked again, Longstaff and Doran being preferred from the bench.

[Huisdean]

Deserved win in terrible conditions at times. Thought we played at a better tempo today and created a lot of chances. Arbroath were poor but some of our interplay was really good and sharp. Samuel fully deserving of MOM but was kicked and held the whole game with no protection from the ref. 

Officiating was really poor again, do we actually train referees any more or are they just allowed to make up their own decisions.