Albion Rovers v Forfar Athletic – match preview

The ‘Loons’ play their second away game of the week on Saturday when they head for Coatbridge to face Albion Rovers.

The Athies have a one hundred per cent record to date against Rovers this season.

Back in September they triumphed 3-1 at on home soil before winning 3-2 in an ‘old fashioned battle’ at Cliftonhill in testing conditions in December.

Then a brace from Andy Munro clinched all three points in a tepid affair at Station Park early last month.

Andy was of course also on the score sheet, his ninth of the season as Forfar got back to winning ways at Central Park on Tuesday evening with a 2-1 success over bottom club Cowdenbeath.

Craig Thomson gave the ‘Loons’ an early lead over in Fife, his fourth counter of the season before the home side netted an equaliser in the 36^th minute, Andy’s vital winner coming with six minutes left on the clock.

Manager Gary Irvine could not hide his delight at picking up the three point haul against Maurice Ross’s side and he will looking for the players to build on that success in Lanarkshire.

On the availability front it is hoped that Darren Whyte and Luke Strachan will return to the squad following their covid related absence over the past week, while Steven Warnock has also returned to training with his parent club Kilmanrock.

The Station Park outfit go into the game now sitting three points behind Annan Athletic in the battle for the runners-up spot with seven games remaining.

Albion go into Saturday’s game sitting a now pretty comfortable eight points clear of Cowdenbeath at the foot of the table and in fact within two points of eighth placed Elgin City.

They have had a tough week with two clashes against Kelty, manager Brian Reid by all accounts delighted by the application shown in a hard fought goalless draw between the sides at Cliftonhill on Wednesday past.

One thing is for certain.   It will be no easy task to pick up the three points for Ross Meechan and his colleagues on Saturday, fixtures at the Lanarkshire venue over the years proof of that fact.

Mike Roncone who was in charge of the ‘Loons’ game at Ochilview three weeks back is again the man in the middle.

The kick-off is as usual at 3p.m.

Admission charges at Cliftonhill are £13 for adults, £7 concessions.

Fourth in the table Edinburgh City who sit six points adrift of the ‘Loons’ and who surprisingly sacked manager Gary Naysmith on Thursday entertain Stranraer at Ainslie Park on Friday evening, Saturday’s other three cinch league 2 fixtures being;-

Cowdenbeath v Stenhousemuir, Elgin City v Kelty Hearts, Stirling Albion v Annan Athletic