MATCH PREVIEW: Dunfermline Athletic v Forfar Athletic

The ‘Loons’ will head to meet league leaders Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park on Saturday on the back of a run of four game run without a win.

The will also do so with a depleted squad with Michael Dunlop, Michael Travis and Danny Denholm all definitely ruled out and Lewis Allan still a doubt.

Craig Smith was also on the treatment table on Tuesday night, missing out on the Development League game at Kirkcaldy.

On the plus side, Derek Young took part in a full training session in the early part of the week and should hopefully return to the squad.

Having not lost in any of the four contests against the ‘Pars’ last term, the Station Park men have already incurred two defeats to Alan Johnston’s high flying squad this season, both games staged at Station Park.

A 3-0 defeat in the Petrofac Cup in which Michael Moffat netted a brace, was followed up by a 4-0 reverse in the league, Joe Cardle the Fifers hat trick hero on that occasion.

The East End Park outfit who have recruited over a dozen new faces since May, no doubt at a fair expense, moved back to the top of the table last Saturday evening.    Ayr United of course dropped two points in their fixture in the afternoon, prior to Dunfermline triumphing 3-0 down at Stranraer in the early evening live on BBC Alba.

Forfar’s patched up squad will nevertheless be up for the challenge, of that there is no doubt come 3p.m. on Saturday and will be hopeful of translating last weekend’s excellent first half display, capped by Iain Campbell’s wonder goal, into a full ninety minute performance in the Kingdom.

The match will be refereed by Premiership official Stephen Finnie.