There are only 12 games of the regular league season remaining but Arbroath boss Paul Sheerin insists he does not feel time is running out to secure the club’s League One safety.
Despite picking up a hard-fought point at Stranraer last week, the Red Lichties plummeted to the bottom of the table after their nearest challengers Airdrie beat Brechin.
However, the Gayfield gaffer insists that his players are still capable of turning things around to take them clear of the drop zone, starting today in the Angus derby with Forfar.
He said: “Last week, I think beforehand, we would have taken a point away from home at a club doing well this season but obviously we would have preferred to have won, especially considering results elsewhere.
“However, we now have a derby to look forward to and there is always that wee bit extra edge and excitement to these games.
“We are determined to pick up a win as the position we are in is far from ideal.
“There are still plenty of games left and although we are bottom of the table, there are just six points between us and East Fife in eighth place.
“The clubs above us are still catchable it’s not as if there is a 12 or 15-point gap.
“If we can win against Forfar and results elsewhere go our way then we will be off the bottom of the table on Saturday night.
“However, we have to concentrate on ourselves and prepare the right way.”
“Dr Goals” Kenny Deuchar made his Arbroath debut last week coming off the bench at Stranraer.
Sheerin revealed that the striker still has some way to go before he can be considered for a starting berth but his arrival along with on-loan Dundee front man Leighton
McIntosh and Paul McManus from Forfar has considerably increased the firepower at the manager’s disposal.
Sheerin added: “Kenny is in the squad but he is still working on his fitness levels. Leighton did well again last week and it was good to see Paul McManus get a goal.
“That should do wonders for his confidence and he will of course be looking forward to facing his old side at Gayfield.
“We now have a lot of competition for places up front which can only be a good thing for us.”
Scott Morrison is a big injury doubt for the game.
Meanwhile, Forfar boss Dick Campbell is looking for his players to concentrate for the full 90 minutes after “switching off” last week against Dunfermline.
The Angus side were 2-1 up with 30 minutes remaining but slumped to a 4-2 loss at Station Park.
Campbell has now demanded his team play right to the final whistle this week at Gayfield.
He said: “Full credit to Dunfermline but we lost some bad goals last week. We just switched off and we cannot afford to do that against an Arbroath team fighting for their lives.
“But we are determined to get back to winning ways.”
Forfar will welcome back Odmar Faeroe and Dale Hilson into the squad with both having recovered from injury.