Arbroath manager Dick Campbell still insists his side’s main goal for the season is to avoid relegation – despite just being three points from the top after a comfortable victory over Partick Thistle.
The Lichties moved up to third in the Championship after the 2-0 win at Firhill.
Goals from Anton Dowds and Liam Henderson secured the points for Arbroath and it was no less than they deserved, according to Campbell.
Deserved win
“That’s as good as we’ve played this year. Nobody would deny us that,” he said.
“When you get the fixture list at the start of the season and you think of the tough games. Thistle’s one. I’ve been here, I’ve been the manager. I know how difficult it is.”
Arbroath rode early Thistle pressure well and countered numerous times throughout the game and should have won by a bigger score line, something Campbell is more than aware of.
“We got a good first goal and the second was a great goal as well,” he said.
“We had really good chances to make it more than that.
“I thought I was going to get another couple at the end there to help with the goal difference!”
Thistle enjoyed slightly more possession of the ball, but never really troubled the visitors – other than a Ross MacIver header which rattled Derek Gaston’s bar.
40-point target
That aside, it was a trouble-free afternoon for the Arbroath stopper who earned another clean sheet.
“We totally and utterly deserved to win today,” Campbell said.
“They didn’t really threat at all – ok they hit the bar but that was maybe a mistake from our point of view.
“But that’s the breaks you get. It shows you we can come to Partick Thistle and comfortably so we’re getting near those 40 points.”
Arbroath are aiming to achieve that point target which would likely secure their position in the Championship.
Despite just being three points off the top of the league, Campbell is still only focused on one thing.
“We’ve won and getting closer to that 40-point mark that will keep us up – then we can get on with thinking about something else,” he said.
“Once we get there, I’ll tell you what’s on my mind after that.”
Partick Thistle 0-2 Arbroath: Lichties end Jags’ clean sheet record to go third in Championship
