MATCH PREVIEW: Ayr United v Forfar Athletic

Following on last week’s home defeat from Queens Park, the ‘Loons’ could hardly have come up against a harder task as a follow up with a visit to league leaders Ayr United on the cards for this coming Saturday.

To be fair Ian McCall’s men also had a disappointing pre-Christmas Saturday going down 2-0 at Airdrie, this result following three straight wins earlier in the month, 4-1 away to East Fife and 3-2 home successes over Queens Park and Albion Rovers.

The Athies head to Somerset Park knowing that they have already lost twice this campaign to the ‘Honest Men.’   A flurry of late goals in August saw Ayr clinch a 3-0 win at Somerset, while four second half counters saw United run out comfortable 5-0 winners at the end of the day at Station Park in October.

Jim Weir does hope to have a new face or two in his starting eleven against Arbroath on Tuesday afternoon of next week at Station Park, the registration/transfer window due to open on New Years Day, but for the moment his selection problems continue to mount.

Darren Whyte who missed out last weekend due to injury is unavailable as his Emergency 93 day transfer expired last weekend, while Conor Quigley has headed home with permission of his parent club Dundee to Ireland.  On top of that Jamie Bain sits out Saturday’s contest serving a one game ban having accumulated his sixth booking of the season at Stranraer two weeks back.

Lewis Milne ruled out through a family bereavement last weekend should return to the squad.

Colin Steven is the referee, the first time he has handled a Forfar fixture this term.