MATCH PREVIEW: Airdrieonians v Forfar Athletic

The ‘Loons’ head west on Saturday to face Gary Bollan’s Airdire outfit in their opening game in the re-branded Ladbrokes League 1.
They do so on the back of two cup-tie victories over Montrose and Queens Park, matches which have also seen the Athies new look rearguard stand firm, not a goal conceded to date.
Dick Campbell’s starting eleven is likely to be on similar lines to the Hampden tie, although Craig Smith and Kerr Hay are both available this week, the twenty player squad currently at the Manager’s disposal, totally injury free.
The ‘Diamonds’ had no less than eight newcomers, namely Neil Parry, David Van Zanten, Sean Crighton, Alan Lithgow, Kevin McBride, David Cox, Taylor Morgan and Nicolas Sumsky in their ranks in the 1-0 League Cup win at Stirling last Saturday. Jordan Morton’s first half strike in that fixture clinching a home tie with Rangers in round two for the Lanarkshire side.
This victory came on the back of a surprise 3-1 reverse in the Petrofac at Annan the previous week.
Last season’s clashes between the sides saw Dick Campbell’s troops triumph on two occasions, one at home, one away, while Airdrie won the televised contest between the sides in Febraury to the tune of 3-1. The fourth encounter, a pre-Christmas fixture at Station Park ended all square.
After Saturday’s trip to the Excelsior Stadium, it is four home games in ten days for the ‘Loons’ starting with the visit of Albion Rovers on Saturday week.
Dick and his players will hope to go into that joust, having reaped some reward from what will undoubtedly be a tough opening assignment.
The referee on Saturday is Ayrshire based Kevin Graham who took charge of Forfar’s Play-Off Final first leg at Station Park in May.