It may have only got them a point, but Paul Sheerin is hoping that his team took a giant leap forward when they drew with Forfar last weekend.
The Arbroath boss saw a lot of encouraging signs in the performance at Station Park, chief among them the response to falling a goal behind.
Sheerin explained: “That was as well as we’ve played for a while. To get that level of performance was a real positive and hopefully we can now build on it. We were well worth our point, and probably deserved the win.
“Our reaction to losing a goal was what pleased me most. In the past I’ve seen our confidence suffer after conceding, and heads going down, but this time we were straight on the attack, hit the woodwork and had other chances.”
Sheerin revealed that he hasn’t been tempted to hold a group clear-the-air meeting even when results were at their worst.
“I try and avoid that,” he pointed out.
“I think it can add to any negativity that is around. My style is more to speak to players one to one and keep them as upbeat as possible.
“Hopefully the day will never come when we need a crisis meeting!”
Sheerin certainly has positive vibes to draw on for the visit of Dunfermline, as Arbroath won at East End Park early in the season.
He said: “Hopefully that will help our belief, as will last weekend’s performance.”
The negative is the absentees Sheerin is having to deal with at present.
Ross Chisholm is out of the country for two games at a family wedding, Graham Bayne is suspended and Lee Sibanda and Bobby Linn are injury doubts.
“We’re toiling,” Sheerin admitted. “Hopefully we can get two or three boys in over the next few weeks to boost our numbers.”