Dick Campbell assesses start to season as Arbroath move into play-off position

But despite their lofty position, Arbroath’s often outspoken gaffer Dick Campbell was not shouting his mouth off when speaking about his shock troops ending up in the top four come the end of the season.

"I know I’ve got a good side,” Campbell told the Angus County Press. “I’m not worried about promotion, I’m just worried about finishing third bottom.

“It was excellent on Saturday. It doesn’t get any better than that.

"Let’s not kid ourselves on, Dunfermline were heavy favourites at the start of the season to win the league.

"I can only talk about how we went about our job.

"We should have scored more but it was an all round complete performance.

"We’ve been playing really well all season. I thought we should have won the first two games we played (a 1-0 home defeat by Inverness and a 2-2 draw at Ayr United). But it is what it is.”

Campbell said he expects to utilise the loan market to bring in more new signings between now and the end of September.

"I will use that market,” he said.

"I could do with an attacking midfield player.

"I’m already close through talking to one or two of them. They both play in the Premier League.”

Arbroath visit Aberdeen Colts this Saturday in the second round of the Scottish Challenge Cup, kick-off 3pm.

And the Red Lichties will go into that tie in a confident mood after the emphatic way they saw off the Pars last weekend.

Michael McKenna netted twice either side of a David Gold strike as Arbroath secured back-to-back victories to move onto seven points from their four league fixtures.

Kai Kennedy hit the post for the hosts and Kevin O'Hara and Nikolay Todorov had would-be equalisers disallowed but it was another disappointing day for the Fifers which heaped further pressure on their under fire gaffer Peter Grant.

Arbroath substitute Luke Donnelly had a goal ruled out for offside as three goals proved enough for Campbell's men.