Arbroath boss Dick Campbell says side's season objective has already been met

Jack Hamilton was in the thick of the action throughout Saturday's 3-3 draw. Pic by Graham Black

Dick Campbell’s Arbroath are just a few points away from confirming their place in this season’s Championship play-offs.

Of course, they’re also just four points behind league leaders Kilmarnock and may still find themselves topping the division come the end of the season.

But boss Campbell believes all of that is secondary to what his team has already achieved this campaign, regardless of where they finish in the table come 4.45pm on April 29.

The Lichties are at the top end of the division on merit, stringing together a series of positive results over the campaign.

Jack Hamilton put Arbroath into an early lead at the weekend. Pic by Graham Black

Those results have obviously helped guide them into the promotion mix but the manager maintains that his priority at the start of the season was simply survival.

He said: “We need one more result to get into the play-offs officially.

"We’re enjoying the season, it has to be enjoyed.

"I’m a bit peeved at people not recognising what we’ve achieved already which was our objective to stay in the league.

"We did that in January almost.

"Now we’re in a position where we’re fighting for honours at the end of the season and my players have to be commended for that.

"We won’t lie down to anyone – nobody will want to be playing Arbroath.

"We go to Partick Thistle on Saturday and have a good record against them this year.”

Arbroath go into Saturday’s game with Thistle holding a six point advantage over third placed Inverness and 10 over Partick Thistle back in fourth.