MATCH PREVIEW: Raith Rovers v Forfar Athletic

Forfar Athletic head to Starks Park tomorrow for their first round tie in the League Cup as the underdogs against the full-time Championship outfit who crowned an excellent 2013/14 season by defeating Rangers in extra-time in the final of the Ramsdens Cup.

It will be the first competitive meeting between the sides since the 2006/7 season and manager Dick Campbell would no doubt have been delighted if he could have gone into the game with a full pool of players to choose from, but that is not to be.

Mark Baxter has joined Martyn Fotheringham in the treatment room, while Stuart Malcolm serves a one match suspension carried forward from his red card in the same competition at Dens Park last season.

Darren Dods, absent due to holiday commitments last week will be the obvious replacement for Malcolm, while Gavin Malin an absentee in last week’s defeat at Methil took part in a full training session on Thursday night and returns to the pool.

Raith have not had a competitive game to date this campaign after a freak thunderstorm hit East End Park just prior to kick off in their local derby last Saturday. That same storm skirted New Bayview, but unfortunately for the ‘Loons’ the ‘heavens did not open’ to give them a reprieve.

The Station Park side will however be keen to put last Saturday’s disappointing performance behind them and give Grant Murray’s side a ‘run for their money’ tomorrow.

The home side will have a few new faces in their ranks, one however familiar to the visiting support will be midfielder Kevin Moon who spent a season on loan at Station Park while a St. Johnstone player.

Admission prices at Starks Park are £10 for adults, £5 concessions which will hopefully encourage a reasonable number of ‘Loons’ fans as was the case last week to make a second journey in seven days over the Tay Bridge into the Kingdom of Fife.

The match will be refereed by Premiership official Brian Colvin.