MATCH PREVIEW: Ayr United v Forfar Athletic

The ‘Loons’ make the fairly lengthy trek to Ayrshire on Saturday to take on an Ayr United side who have also been knocked out of both cup competitions over the past ten days, although it would appear that the ‘Honest Men’ put up brave resistance on both occasions, as of course did Dick Campbell’s troops.

Following on their 2-0 reverse to Rangers in the Petrofac, Ian McCall’s side lost by the same margin up at Dingwall in the League Cup on Tuesday past.

The Somerset Park side who only escaped the relegation play-off scenario with a last day win at Station Park in early May, have made a host of close season signings, including former Brechin duo Gerry McLauchlan and Alan Trouten and they have made a reasonable start to their league campaign with two wins out of three matches played to date.

Their pool tomorrow will be boosted by the capture in the last 24 hours of former Dumbarton defender Andy Graham, but Ross Docherty will miss out through suspension.

Thankfully despite a few broken ‘hearts’ after Tuesday night’s League Cup tie, the Station Park injury crisis does not seem to have worsened. The two or three players who picked up knocks in the titanic battle with the Premiership leaders all trained on Thursday evening and should be in the starting line-up.

Thomas O’Brien, Mark Baxter and Gavin Swankie are still side lined, but Thomas should be fit for the visit of the ‘Pars’ next weekend.

Kevin Nicoll misses out as he serves an automatic one match ban, but Danny Denholm is available, his one game suspension following his unlucky dismissal on Tuesday having to be served only in League Cup ties.

On loan Andrew Black who moved from Dens Park on Wednesday is Nicoll’s likely replacement with Lewis Allan also a strong possibility for a starting berth.

Manager Dick Campbell has not ruled out adding a further new face prior to kick-off.

Despite their one hundred per cent record so far, the visitors will probably start as underdogs at Ayr, but if they show they same desire and commitment evidenced to date this season it should turn out to be another intriguing ninety minutes.

The match referee is Premiership official Euan Anderson.