MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v Rangers

Runaway league leaders Rangers will arrive at Station Park on Monday evening still unbeaten in the league, their only slight blip a 1-1 home draw with Stranraer at Ibrox on Boxing Day.

However they will meet a home side most certainly on a high after an excellent start to the New Year. The 5-1 thrashing of Brechin City at the Glebe on the 2nd of January being followed up by a comprehensive 3-0 home success over Stenhousemuir.

The ‘Loons’ will go into the weekend with a few minor injury worries, but only Mark Baxter is a major doubt as he still struggles to recover from the injury he received in the game at Brechin.

The Station Park fringe players all got an excellent run out in a closed doors game on Tuesday past against Dundee United’s Under 20 side, an Aidan Connolly second half strike sealing a 1-0 win for the visitors.

Forfar will have a final training session for the Monday night televised outing on Saturday morning, before meeting at a local venue on Monday late afternoon for a pre-match meal to make sure they are prepared as best as is possible for a midweek joust against a full time outfit.

Ally McCoist’s men will travel north on Monday minus three key players. Arnold Peralta and Ian Black are serving suspensions, while Nicky Clark is out with a foot injury. The striker who netted four times in the home side’s 6-1 win at Ibrox last month over the ‘Loons’ and who quite frankly scored goals for fun against the Station Park outfit last season in Queen of the South’s colours will be a miss,

However there is no doubt that Rangers do have a strength in depth in many a position.

Dick Campbell’s troops go into the game as still the only side to secure a victory over the Ibrox side this season, following their 2-1 extra time success in the League Cup back in August, thanks to Gavin Swankie’s brace. Since then Rangers sneaked home through an Andy Little counter on the stroke of half time in a league fixture back on a windy Sunday afternoon in September at Station Park. This was followed by the 6-1 rout at Ibrox, a night on which the only consolation for the visitors was Swankie’s superb first half strike.

Monday night’s fixture has W.F. Barker Ltd and the Drovers Inn as it’s joint sponsors.

The man in the middle is experienced Premier League official Stephen Finnie.

Forfar Athletic season ticket holders only wishing ground access utilise voucher 16 on the night.

With regard to ticket sales, there are obviously still ground and stand tickets available for the home support, with ‘Loons’ officials hoping that sales will pick up over the weekend.

They will be on sale at Station Park from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday. Toy Castle in Castle Street. is the alternative sales venue on Saturday and Monday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

Rangers are within a whisker of selling out their allocation.

There will be no cash turnstiles on the night.