First Stop Dens Park for the ‘Loons’

Who would ever have imagined that there would be a 213-day break between Forfar Athletic’s last competitive fixture at Starks Park on March 7^th and Tuesday night’s Betfred Cup opener against Dundee at Dens Park and even now the game goes ahead behind closed doors?

Stuart Malcolm’s side have certainly been drawn in a tough Betfred section with Hibernian to be faced on Tuesday week, Highland League champions Brora Rangers and League 2 title winners Cove Rangers their opponents in the second round of fixtures in mid-November.

The Station Park management team have to date brought in twelve new faces since early August to bolster the squad, this likely to be increased to thirteen prior to kick-off on Tuesday with the addition of former Motherwell youngster Cole Starrs.   Cole has been involved with the ‘Loons’ pre-season training and matches since early September and has been rewarded with a short term opportunity at present in the Athies squad.

However, injuries have hit hard already and at the weekend the shattering news that the injury Steven Anderson picked up at Gayfield a week past Saturday will rule him out till at least the end of the year and perhaps beyond was confirmed.

BJ Coll is another certain non-starter against James McPake’s side with a few others rated doubtful, through niggling injury worries, lack of fitness and illness.

Dundee have had a handful of friendly games to date including doubleheaders against both Cove and Peterhead, although a scheduled run out against Queens Park fell foul of the weekend weather.   They have made six close-season signings including the ‘marquee’ capture of Charlie Adam whose father and brother both wore Forfar’s colours.

Obviously, it will be a ‘baptism of fire’ for the visitors at Dens Park tomorrow evening, but hoped for positive performances against the ‘Dee and Hibs would see the squad in good shape for the proposed league opener at home to Dumbarton on the 17^th of the month.