MATCH PREVIEW: Montrose v Forfar Athletic

The ‘Loons’ make their first competitive visit to Links Park since January of 2010 on Saturday still looking for their first point in a derby fixture this term.

They will meet a ‘Gable Endies’ side who triumphed 3-1 in the reverse fixture at Station Park early last month, but who will go into this match with Assistant Manager John Holt in temporary charge following the departure of Paul Hegarty on Wednesday morning.

Gary Bollan and his players will go into the game with renewed confidence following successive victories over Stirling Albion and Berwick Rangers with not a goal conceded in either, results which would appear to have got their season back on track following a ‘dark’ October.

There were a couple of wee niggles reported following last Saturday’s relatively comfortable win, but following treatment on Tuesday evening, a full squad is likely to be available for selection.

The manager as ever will be keeping his ‘cards close to his chest’ in the run up to the derby, but it will be a surprise to many if he decides to make any changes to the starting eleven that served him well last weekend.

The home side sit in second bottom spot in the league table, two points above Edinburgh City and will no doubt be going all out for a three point haul.

Two of the many ex Station Park players in their squad Gary Fraser and Chris Templeman, the former with a brace were their scorers in the October victory.

Since then their form has been mixed to say the least perhaps summed up by a 5-0 hammering on home ‘soil’ from Elgin, then an excellent 3-2 win down at Annan last midweek.

This was followed by a 2-0 reverse at Cowdenbeath which prompted the Links Park Directors to make a change at the helm.

Hopefully a fairly large travelling support will make the 20 mile trip down to the coast for the fixture to give Stuart and his colleagues their backing as they strive to make it a one hundred per cent league record for what would be the third month this season.

Capital City based Gavin Ross is the man in the middle for the clash.