MATCH PREVIEW: Arbroath v Forfar Athletic

When the final whistle blew at Sunday’s encounter with Rangers it brought a conclusion to an amazing seven week opening spell to the campaign for the ‘Loons’. It was a period in which they had twice ‘locked horns’ with the Ibrox outfit and also featured in Ramsden and League Cup jousts with near neighbours Dundee, not forgetting a first day of the season tie with East Fife allied to five other league fixtures, the Rangers game apart.

Hopefully now the season will settle down into a pattern with certainly five vital league fixtures to be played starting with this Saturday’s visit to Arbroath prior to a return to cup tie action on November 2nd.

Despite their current lowly position Dick Campbell’s troops must again take great heart from their battling performance in what was far from a classic on Sunday past, allied to their excellent performance at Methil the previous week. With a little ‘rub of the green’ they certainly could have secured what many neutrals felt would have been a deserved share of the spoils against Ally McCoist’s men, following on their 3-1 victory over the Fifers.

The team that takes the field at Gayfield this week is certain to be along the same lines with no new injury worries to report.

The home side lost 4-3 to Stenhousemuir last Saturday, following on a 5- 1 reverse at Ibrox two weeks back, but certainly showed plenty of attacking intent against the ‘Warriors’ a fact that would not have been lost on the Forfar scouting team present. On loan striker Lee Erwin certainly looks to be a handful. Their defence which looked vulnerable to high balls on the day will also be stiffened this week by the return from injury of Alex Keddie.

All in all an intriguing Angus derby is on the cards and hopefully ‘Loons’ fans will travel in numbers as they have done already this season for three local tussles at Dens and the Glebe to back their favourites.

The match will be refereed by up and coming official Don Robertson who just recently spent ten days in Switzerland on a course designed for FIFA referees of the future.