Arbroath have been drawn against Cumnock Juniors in the Scottish Cup third round. The tie will be played at Gayfield on the weekend of Saturday, 28 November, as the Championship side enters the competition.
The draw was conducted at Hampden Park on Sunday evening by former Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain, who was joined by Gordon Duncan. Bain, a three-time winner of the trophy, reflected on his own success. "It was one of my proudest moments in football," he said.
For Arbroath, the cup provides a welcome distraction from a difficult league campaign. They currently sit 8th in the <a href="/standings">Championship table</a> with 11 points from 12 games, having lost four consecutive matches before a win against Queen's Park last month. Their most recent outing was a 1-0 defeat away to Livingston on 24 October, a result that leaves them 14 points adrift of leaders Partick Thistle. The team's record of three wins and two draws from their 12 matches is undermined by a goal difference of minus eleven, having scored just seven times while conceding 18. Their recent form across the last five league games reads one win and four losses, a sequence that includes defeats to Inverness CT, Morton, Partick, and Stenhousemuir.
Manager Dick Campbell will view the home draw against lower-league opposition as a significant opportunity to build momentum. The immediate focus, however, is a tough <a href="/fixtures">league assignment</a> this Saturday, 31 October, when third-placed Raith Rovers visit Gayfield. Arbroath will be keen to improve on their last meeting with Raith, a 4-0 defeat on 12 September. Finding goals remains a pressing concern, with the team's top scorer this season, R. Callachan, yet to find the net.
The third round incorporates the 20 winners from the second round and the 20 clubs from the SPFL Championship and League One. Arbroath's focus must now shift to preparing for a cup run while addressing their league form.
This story first appeared at scottishfa.co.uk
