Kilmarnock 0-1 Arbroath: Lichties boss Dick Campbell thrilled as shock troops win at league leaders

The 1-0 success moved fifth placed Arbroath onto 27 points from 15 games, just two points behind leaders Killie in a congested top half.

“Tommy Wright (Killie manager) is a good friend of mine,” Campbell said. “The expectation levels on him and his players at Kilmarnock is to win the Championship.

"My expectation level is to stay in the league.

"Great game, both teams going about their jobs right. I honestly felt we deserved to win the game.

"Penalty kick, I’m saying to myself: ‘Just hit it down the middle’.

"But you can’t blame Michael McKenna, he’s got 11 goals this year.

"You’re all starting to get on my back now about playoffs and all the rest of it. I’m telling you now, when it’s mathematically possible that we’re staying in the league, I’ll give you what I think will be the next target for Arbroath.

"They’re part-time remember, they’ve all got jobs. They were outstanding today, their work-rate was outstanding, their togetherness was outstanding, the goal they got was a great goal.

"So I’m absolutely delighted.”

Despite Arbroath’s lofty position, Campbell is not getting carried away.

He added: “Last week if we had won – and we should have won last week – I’d have been coming down here today with a win against Kilmarnock to go top of the league.

"Seven weeks before Christmas and you’re talking about Arbroath being top of the league, I must be on the drink.

"Anton’s been a wee bit unlucky. I didn’t play him today because I didn’t think he did well last week.

"But he certainly put paid to that opinion.

"I have to thank the fans who came down here. The journey will be a wee bit shorter for them back up the road.

"I’ve been 33 years as a manager, 12 games short of 1500 as a coach and a manager – that’s the top game.”

Campbell joked that he is looking forward to “the biggest game in the world” this Saturday, a home Angus derby against Forfar Athletic in the Scottish Cup third round.