MATCH PREVIEW: Ayr United v Forfar Athletic

The ‘Loons’ head to Ayr for their tea time kick-off slot on Saturday still in search of that elusive first league victory since mid September.

However Gary Bollan’s side will take heart from the fact that the Somerset Park outfit are one of only two teams to have not recorded a victory against them to date in the league campaign, Albion Rovers the other and also that the ‘Honest Men’ have in recent weeks recorded only one victory in five league starts.

To be fair Ian McCall’s side still sit comfortably in third place in the Ladbrokes League 1 table, five points behind second placed Peterhead, but crucially with two games in hand.Forfar though will head south with defensive worries.

Michael Travis is ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, while Iain Campbell who missed out at Peterhead is again a major doubt with a groin strain.   Mark Baxter is also unavailable.

This could mean a place in the starting eleven for Development team skipper Michael Kennedy.

The Athies looked to be in pole position to seal a three point haul up at the Balmoor Stadium last Saturday, 2-1 up and facing ten men inside half an hour, but an insipid second half showing again proved costly.

Recent signings Steven Craig and Andy Ryan both however got on the score sheet in that contest and they will again lead the line on Saturday evening.

Ayr also lost out from a winning position last weekend.   They were 2-0 up against league leaders Dunfermline at East End Park, but the game turned against them two minutes into first half added time.

Brian Gilmour was sent off for a handball incident, the ‘Pars’ netted from the resultant penalty before going on to record a 3-2 victory.   Gilmour will of course sit out Saturday’s contest as a result of that red card.

Both games between the sides this term have resulted in 2-2 score lines.   At Ayr in late August, Michael Travis netted 90th minute equaliser for the visitors, while at Station Park in mid October, the home side squandered a two goal first half lead, an all too familiar tale this season!

Saturday’s fixture will be refereed by second season Grade One official Gavin Duncan.