MATCH PREVIEW: Greenock Morton v Forfar Athletic

The ‘Loons’ head back west on Saturday to meet new table toppers Morton at Cappielow.

The Greenock outfit moved two points clear of Stranraer on Tuesday night with what was in the end, a comprehensive 4-0 home win over Stirling Albion, with Stefan McCluskey the hat-trick hero.

That saw Jim Duffy’s side extend their current unbeaten league run to eight games, vindication of the club’s activity in the January transfer window.

Tuesday’s success coupled with their win at Peterhead last weekend, allied to the Athies disappointing 1-0 reverse at Ayr also moves Morton five points ahead of their Saturday opponents, although Dick Campbell’s side do have a game in hand.

Saturday’s sojourn will be the second of three tough away games in ten days for the Station Park men, with a visit to Peterhead on the ‘menu’ for next midweek.

Following last Saturday’s encounter in atrocious overhead and underfoot conditions at Ayr, they also have more than a few injury concerns to contend with.

Skipper Gavin Swankie, Iain Campbell and Dale Hilson all picked up knocks at Somerset Park which have cast doubts on their fitness for Saturday’s ‘battle’.

On the plus side, defenders Mark Baxter and Michael Dunlop are back to full fitness, but the Manager may well have to consider utilising some of the young talent available to him from the club’s Development Squad.

The ‘Loons’ triumphed 3-2 in the first encounter of the season at Station Park between the sides in late August, before Morton turned the tables with a 2-0 win at Cappielow in November.

Then just five weeks ago, it was the visitors who recorded a 2-1 win on their second visit of the campaign to the ‘toonie,’ courtesy of a phenomenal strike by Peter McDonald, when most pundits felt that on the day the home eleven deserved at least a share of the spoils.

Saturday’s referee is the experienced Craig Charleston, who was in charge of the ‘Loons’ home game with Stenhousemuir in mid January.