MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v Airdrieonians

Airdrieonians are the visitors to Station Park on Saturday, Gary Bollan’s side now sitting one place and two points ahead of the ‘Loons’ in the Ladbrokes League 1 table.

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first!

Forfar go into the match on the back of what was an extremely disappointing performance in last weekend’s derby fixture and without a three point haul in a league fixture since September 12th.

Sadly they will also be without three players, Derek Young, Thomas O’Brien and Kerr Hay through suspension.

Injuries also take their toll with Michael Travis and Lewis Allan ruled out and Mark Baxter and Michael Dunlop at best facing late fitness checks.

Dick Campbell though remains positive and defiant and hopefully this will also be the theme for the eleven players that take to the field in sky and navy at 3p.m. on Saturday.

The player pool has seen another midweek addition with highly regarded central defender Michael Rose arriving from Pittodrie on a short term temporary transfer and he is certain to start on Saturday.

Let’s hope he slots into the team in similar fashion to Scott Martin, the young ‘Hibee’ who was one of the few bonuses last week, deservedly winning the match sponsors ‘Loons’ man of the match award.

A lot of ‘water has flown under the bridge’ as they say since the opening day of the league campaign back in early August when the Athies took a second minute lead down at Airdrie through Chris Templeman, going on to dominate the first half without adding to their tally. In the end, they probably had a fine second half display from big Rab to thank for hanging on to the three points.

Since then the ‘Diamonds’ have had a mixed bag of results, summed up in recent weeks by a 1-1 draw at home to neighbours Albion Rovers last Saturday, a 2-0 defeat the previous week up at Peterhead and a 1-0 win seven days before at home to Brechin.

They have found goals hard to come by with Liam Watt their leading marksman to date with only three goals. Talisman striker, the veteran Jim Lister is currently out recovering from a hernia operation.

Back to the home side and it is at times like this in a season when Officials, Management, Players and importantly Supporters must all stick together and get behind the cause.

The support the players have received this term has been excellent and hopefully that will again be the case when in what realistically is slight adversity, all will bond together and by 4.50p.m. on Saturday, the winless sequence of results will have come to an end.

The match will be refereed by first season Grade One official from Lanarkshire David Lowe.

The match is sponsored by main club sponsor Orchard Timber Products as part of their overall package.

Forfar Athletic season ticket holders utilise voucher 14.

Admission prices are £13/7 for the stand, £12/6 for the terracing.

A reminder that the 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open from 12.30p.m. till 2.45p.m. and again on the final whistle until approximately 7.30p.m.

Finally as it is Remembrance Weekend, a minutes silence will be observed by Officials, Players and Supporters prior to kick-off, as will be the case at most senior grounds in the UK this weekend to remember the fallen of two world wars and many a conflict since.