Arbroath assistant manager Todd Lumsden insists no-one at Gayfield is panicking despite seeing their lead at the top of League Two cut to just two points after back-to-back defeats.
The Lichties looked unstoppable a few weeks ago after losing just one of their first 10 league games, but successive losses to closest challengers Queen’s Park and Albion Rovers has dented their title challenge slightly.
However, Lumsden has faith in the players to emerge strongly from their recent sticky spell when they host Clyde this afternoon.
“We may have lost the last two games however we have not seen anything in those games that have caused us great alarm,” he said.
“Our performances have been good and we know that the least we should have taken from the Queen’s Park game was a draw and that no-one would have grudged us a point at Coatbridge last weekend.
“No-one from our place got carried away when we won nine out of first 10 games so we will not be getting despondent from the two defeats in games that we have played well in.
“We will just look to get back to winning ways.”
Arbroath ran out 5-2 winners when they last met the Bully Wee on September 20, but Lumsden and boss Allan Moore will not be using that as a pointer.
“I would not read too much into that result as Clyde were the better team for the opening 20 minutes,” Lumsden explained.
“They were passing the ball about well but they had a man sent off and that changed the game.
“We are preparing to face a side that will do very well with 11 players on the park.”
Kevin Nicoll misses out through suspension however on-loan Dundee midfielder Dylan Carreiro returns to the Arbroath squad after suspension after international duty with Canada.
Lumsden added: “Some people thought that Dylan had a quiet game against Queen’s Park however that was based on the fact that he had scored four goals in the five games leading up to it.
“His use of the ball and his ability to keep it are fantastic so it is good to have him available again.”