MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v East Fife

The ‘Loons’ and the men from Methil will clash for the third time already this season when they go head to head at Station Park on Saturday in the third round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

Both teams will no doubt be glad to get a break from league action, only one point separating the sides at the wrong end of a tight League One table.

The homesters have had the upper hand so far in the two matches so far this term. Back on the seasons’ opening day first half goals from Omar Kader and Stuart Malcolm helped Dick Campbell’s troops to a 2-1 home success over the fifers in the Ramsdens Cup, the match heralding visiting boss Willie Aitchison’s first competitive game in charge.

Then at Methil in mid September, Forfar again came out on top, goals from James Dale, Dale Hilson and Gavin Swankie clinching a 3-1 win and with it three welcome league points.

The ‘Loons’ management team have no new injury worries although Neil McCabe is still not quite recovered from the knock he took at Airdrie two weeks back. The starting line-up therefore is likely to show little change from recent weeks.

Stuart Malcolm returned to training this week, but the game will come to quick for him.

The Bayview men had an excellent 2-1 win in their last away game against arch rivals Dunfermline Athletic, goals in the final ten minutes at East End Park from Ross Brown and Liam Buchanan securing the points. They also gave a good account of themselves especially in the first half against Rangers last week, so will no doubt travel to Station Park in confident mood.

A reminder to home supporters that season tickets are not valid for Scottish ties, but hopefully the ‘magic’ of the cup and the lure of the rewards progress in the tournament can bring will mean a reasonable turnout from both sets of fans for what is almost a local derby.

The match will be refereed by Lanarkshire based whistler Andrew Dallas who also handled the Ramsdens Cup tie between the sides in July.

Finally if Saturday’s tie was to end in a draw, the replay would be over in Fife on Tuesday the 12th with a 7.45 pm kick off.