Forfar Athletic v Brechin City – Match Preview

A derby clash with old rivals Brechin City at the Parkgrove Stadium @ Station Park on Saturday brings Premier Sports Cup action to a close for this season for both sides.

Naturally supporters of both clubs taking the nature of the contest into account will crave a victory, while the management and players of both the Athies and City will be keen to  avoid finishing in bottom spot in the group standings.

Both sides have to date lost all three fixtures, the latest for the ‘Loons’ on Tuesday past at Livingston, their biggest defeat since March of 2007 when the Forfar team of the time were on the wrong end of a 9-1 pasting at Cappielow.

There is no hiding from the fact that the 8-0 thumping from Glenn Whelan’s side was a low point in recent times for the club, but it is history now and lessons must be and will be learned of that there is no doubt.

Manager Jim Weir not surprisingly has analyzed Tuesday night’s overall performance time and again and although accepting that we will not come up against the same standard of opposition week on week, still saw many a flaw that will have to be rectified quickly.

He is in no doubt that his staff and the players in particular have to put the horrific result and in fact the disappointing start to the campaign so far, behind them and quickly.

Work began on the training pitch on Thursday evening in that regard and to importantly restore belief and confidence throughout the squad.

There is no better way to re-boot the season  than with a derby fixture and the local bragging rights on offer.

For all concerned individually and collectively that will be the aim of those in sky blue come 3p.m. on Saturday.

Disappointingly the home side will again be minus four key players, Blair Alston, Jake Dolzanski, Adam Livingstone and Craig Slater through injury, hopefully this particular scenario will improve come the opening league joust with Kelty on Saturday week.

There is little doubt that Andy Kirk and his players will arrive in confident mode following encouraging showings in defeat against Livingston and Stenhousemuir.

Amazingly in the game last weekend against the ‘Warriors,’ City listed six players who formerly plied their trade in ‘Loons’ colours.

Dale Hilson one of a handful of recent acquisitions at Glebe Park will be the most recognizable to the Forfar support, the others skipper Euan Spark, Mitch Taylor, Kieran Inglis, Lewis Martin and Adam Hutchinson.

This all adds spice to the occasion, the first competitive meeting of the clubs in just over seven years, the ‘Loons’ triumphing 3-0 on that occasion!

The referee on Saturday is Iain Sneddon.