‘Fascinating’ games hailed by Arbroath manager Dick Campbell

Jack Hamilton's three goals against Ayrshire side Darvel helped ensure Arbroath's place in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup (pictures by Graham Black)

After Saturday’s 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Darvel, and the reward of a juicy home tie with Hibs in the last 16, the Lichties welcome fifth-placed Partick Thistle to Gayfield this weekend as the league campaign resumes.

Arbroath remain three points clear at the summit, with Inverness CT blowing the opportunity to catch them last weekend by conceding a late equaliser at Dunfermline.

It’s possible, if Arbroath falter against the Jags and Inverness produce a massive win at Kilmarnock, that Campbell’s troops may be unseated – but it seems virtually certain the division’s only part-timers will be enjoying at least another week in pole position.

Veteran Bobby Linn assisted in creating one of team mate Jack Hamilton's counters

"Let’s bring on the Partick Thistle game,” said Campbell. “Every single game you play now is just fascinating as you try and work out the outcome. We’ll see what is in front of us.”

Partick Thistle also advanced in the Scottish Cup last weekend after a single-goal win over Airdrie but Arbroath have beaten them in both league encounters so far this season.

Manager Campbell has been assessing some potential new arrivals in training but stressed his often-repeated rule of only recruiting players he believed were superior to those already there.

“These things don’t happen overnight,” he added. “People think it’s a matter of just signing players – it’s not. I will not bring anybody in unless they’re better than what I have.”

The boss was delighted with the manner in which his players took care of the threat of West of Scotland Premier League side Darvel at Gayfield last Saturday.

“It was a excellent, I can assure you. It really was a very, very professional performance,” he said. "You can call it a banana skin or whatever you want to say but it was a very difficult game.”

On Jack Hamilton’s hat-trick, Campbell added: “I have to compliment him on his three striker’s goals. He was in the box for every one of them. I’m delighted.” Adding the player had only recently returned to match aftion, he said: “I thought he was excellent all round. He is a box to box striker.”