MATCH PREVIEW | ARBROATH (A)

All roads lead to Gayfield this Friday as 3,000 Arabs are set to descend on Arbroath for the 2023/24 cinch Championship curtain-raiser.

Opponent Lowdown

Last season, Arbroath narrowly evaded relegation on the final day, in stark contrast to their title-challenging heroics of 12 months prior.

A nail-biting showdown on home turf culminated in a 0-0 stalemate, consigning Hamilton Academical to the League One Play-Off and ensuring the hosts would spend a fifth consecutive year in the second-tier of Scottish football.

Moving through the summer, Arbroath rounded off Viaplay Cup Group H with a convincing 3-0 victory over fellow Angus outfit Montrose, as summer signings Leighton McIntosh, Kenan Dünnwald and Jay Bird found the back of the net on the east coast.

Watch the goals from that clash below!

However, the rousing derby triumph wasn't enough to salvage the Red Lichties' Viaplay Cup campaign, with five points not enough to escape the group in third place.

Other Group H results saw them defeated by St Mirren and Forfar Athletic, whilst they played out a 1-1 draw with nine-man Cowdenbeath on the opening day.

Wheeling and Dealing

Since the beginning of last season, no fewer than 24 players have departed Gayfield.

Amongst them is club legend Bobby Linn who turned out a staggering 374 times in maroon, with the 37-year-old calling time on a 20-year senior career across the SPFL pyramid.

IMAGE CREDIT - Arbroath FC

Linn did however pledge his immediate future to Dundee-based Lochee United as he continues to balance football with full-time employment in the refuse industry.

Dick Campbell has looked to rebuild his ranks with the signing of nine new faces, including former United midfielder Craig Slater from Forfar Athletic.

IMAGE CREDIT - DC Thomson

The wildcard arrival appears to be the aforementioned Dünnwald, snapped up by Arbroath from fifth-tier German side SV Straelen. The frontman enjoyed spells in British football prior to his arrival in Scotland with Bristol Rovers, Scunthorpe United and Stockport County.

Ex-Motherwell and Ross County striker Jermaine Hylton has also made a return to the Scottish game, penning a short-term deal with Arbroath following a successful trial period.

Tale of the Tape

United and Arbroath most recently faced off in July 2021 during the Viaplay Cup Group Stage.

It was just the second match at Tannadice where supporters were permitted to return to the terraces following the COVID-19 Pandemic, as 500 Arabs watched Charlie Mulgrew's audacious free-kick split the difference in the City of Discovery.

Our last visit to Gayfield also resulted in a victory for the Terrors, with Sam Stanton's deflected strike in December 2019 enough to secure the three points - a result which extended our unbeaten run to eight matches.

42 players have represented both clubs through the years, including our top scorer from the iconic 1982/83 season, Davie Dodds, who enjoyed a brief loan stint with Arbroath in 1977.

Furthermore, fellow title-winning hero Hamish McAlpine concluded his illustrious playing career between the sticks at Gayfield.

Talking Tactics

Campbell has chopped and changed throughout the summer as he attempts to find his strongest XI, beginning with a 4-4-2 in the opening two matches before making the switch to a lone-striker formation.

Ahead of reliable shot-stopper Derek Gaston, the back four appear to have cemented their respective positions, with the exception of left centre-half, as both David Gold and Thomas O'Brien have slotted into that role during the Viaplay Cup. 

Veteran midfielder Michael McKenna usually holds down the middle of the park, flanked by Portuguese livewire Joao Balde and Slater.

IMAGE CREDIT - Arbroath FC

Up top, the 69-year-old boss opted for an attacking trio of new faces Hylton, Bird and McIntosh last time out against Montrose.

They rarely fail to make first contact when defending set-pieces, also displaying a proactive reaction to the second phase, therefore United will likely have to take the patient and circuitous route to goal.

Six of the eight goals Arbroath conceded in July came directly from teams exploiting the right-hand side of the pitch, with runners in behind proving difficult for Campbell's side to deal with, especially on the turnover.

Watch the goals from Abroath's 4-0 defeat to St Mirren below!

It appears an early goal will be crucial in the Terrors' pursuit of three points on Friday night to suck the hosts out of their low block and open spaces for direct runs through the middle.

Predicted XI: Gaston, Steele, Little, O'Brien, Stewart, Dow, McKenna, Slater, Stowe, Hylton, Bird.

One To Watch

Former MK Dons starlet Jay Bird has raised eyebrows in Angus with his start to life in a maroon jersey. 

The 22-year-old earned himself a 12-month deal after a lively 45-minute cameo against Stirling Albion, in which he picked out the top corner from 16 yards with an emphatic right-footed finish.

Since his Forthbank wonder strike, Bird has also written his name onto the scoresheet in his last two consecutive outings with tidy strikes against Forfar Athletic and Montrose.

He gives the Red Lichties' frontline a powerful and pacey focal point who is capable of bringing teammates into play, whilst also proving adept at operating off either wing.