Arbroath look to repeat August's win over Livingston as the bottom two close in
Thursday 22 October 2026 · By Gregor Watt
Arbroath need a lift, and Saturday's trip to Livingston (15:00) gives them a chance to find one. The Red Lichties have lost their last three league games, and with Greenock Morton and Queen's Park both picking up wins recently, the gap to the bottom two has narrowed.
Colin Hamilton and David Gold's side are eighth with 11 points from 11 games. Morton and Queen's Park are both on seven, four points behind, and Arbroath will be keen to stop that gap shrinking any further.
The recent run has been tough. A 3–0 defeat at Partick Thistle on 3 October was followed by a 2–1 home loss to Morton, in a game where Scott Constable was sent off after just nine minutes. Last Saturday, Arbroath were beaten 2–0 at Inverness, with both goals coming in a three-minute spell before half-time.
There was one bright spot in the Highlands. Goalkeeper Aidan McAdams saved a second-half penalty from Inverness's Paul Allan to stop the score from getting worse, and Arbroath kept going right to the end.
Goals have been the main problem. Arbroath have scored just seven in 11 league games, the second-lowest total in the division. Only Queen's Park, with six, have scored fewer.
Injuries have played a part too. Before the Morton game earlier this month, Arbroath were facing the prospect of being without six players, including captain Tam O'Brien. We haven't seen an update on how many of those players are back, so team news will have to wait.
The good news is that Arbroath have a happy memory of this fixture. They beat Livingston 1–0 at Gayfield on 29 August, with Reilly scoring a penalty three minutes after half-time. Livi had a man sent off just before the break, and although Constable was shown a second yellow card late on, Arbroath held on for the win.
Livingston aren't in great form either. They're without a win in three league games and still don't have a permanent head coach, nearly seven weeks after Glenn Whelan was sacked. David Martindale and Frankie McAvoy remain in interim charge.
Livi are sixth, three points ahead of Arbroath, so a win would pull the Red Lichties level with them on points. It would also put more distance between Arbroath and the two sides below.
There's been little news out of Gayfield this week, with no new club or press stories since the defeat in Inverness. Hamilton and Gold will be hoping their side do the talking on Saturday.
After Livingston, Arbroath return to Gayfield for back-to-back home games. Raith Rovers visit on Saturday 31 October, and Ayr United are the visitors on Saturday 7 November.
Raith are third and pushing for the title, but they're also struggling with injuries, so that game could be more open than the table suggests.
For now, though, the focus is on Livingston. A repeat of August's result would ease the pressure, lift the mood around the club and give Arbroath something to build on going into November.
Gayfield Park sits on the seafront at Arbroath, a short walk west of the harbour, and it is the closest senior football ground to the sea in Britain. Arbroath, the Red Lichties, have played on this site since 1880. The present pitch was realigned in 1925 so a stand could be built along Dundee Road. If you are used to modern bowls, Gayfield will feel like a throwback: one seated stand, three terraces, and the North Sea just beyond the far touchline.
The pitch runs north to south and measures 115 by 71 yards. The north goal is directly in front of the Harbour End, also called the Bellrock End, the traditional home end. The south goal is directly in front of the Pleasureland End, also known as the Seaforth or Pleash End, with the amusement arcade behind the terrace. Neither goal faces a side stand. The Gayfield Stand, the only seats, runs along the west touchline beside Dundee Road. Opposite it, the East Terrace looks straight out to the sea wall.
Visiting supporters are usually given the Pleasureland End when segregation is in force, and sometimes half of the East Terrace as well. A small block of seats in the Gayfield Stand, often section G, may also be opened to away fans. The club has housed visitors at the Harbour End for some fixtures, so read the matchday note before you travel. With no segregation you can move around the ground, and many crowds still swap ends at half-time.
The listed capacity is 6,600, of which 861 are seats in the Gayfield Stand, opened in 2002 and extended in 2010. The record crowd is 13,510, Arbroath against Rangers in the Scottish Cup in February 1952. Ordinary league days are much quieter. Each terrace has a covered section over the middle and open corners. A floodlight pylon rises through the middle of the main-stand roof, and smaller pylons stand in the East Terrace.
Dress for the North Sea, not the forecast. Gayfield has a fair claim to be the coldest ground in the Scottish leagues. From October to March bring a coat, a hat and something windproof. On a rough tide, waves break over the sea wall and soak the East Terrace. If the wind is up, that side is the place not to stand unless you enjoy a soaking. Cover on the terraces is only partial, so the middle of the Pleasureland roof is the sensible away berth.
Gates are on Dundee Road. Home fans generally use Gates 1 and 2; away fans are often sent to Gate 3 towards the Harbour end of the stand. Toilets and a refreshment booth sit on each side, with pie huts towards the corners of the East Terrace. The steak and black pudding pie is the one regulars mention. The 36-0 Lounge, named for the 1885 Scottish Cup win over Bon Accord, is in the main stand and usually welcomes away fans unless segregation is up. Smoking is not allowed in the stand, and pyrotechnics are banned.
By car, Gayfield is on the A92. Coming from the south, the ground appears on your right. Street parking lines the seafront, with more space by Pleasureland and at Inchcape Park on the harbour side. Arbroath station is about a fifteen-minute walk: left out of the entrance, right into Millgate Loan, and on until the floodlights. Leave time for a smokie or fish and chips at the harbour. On a clear day, from the East Terrace, there is nothing between you and Denmark but water.