Forfar Athletic 0 Elgin City 0

Forfar Athletic 0 Elgin City 0

Friendly, Station Park

Saturday 13 March 2021

For once, the result didn’t matter. Not really. For Stuart Malcolm, this friendly against Elgin City was all about discovery. Or re-discovery. After nine long weeks of Covid-19-induced inactivity, the Forfar manager’s biggest priority was assessing where his men and his team are before the resumption of league matches next week. Which is why 18 of the 19 players on the team sheet saw action in this 0-0 draw.

  “We had four or five new faces out there today,” said Malcolm at the end of an encounter that improved as it went on, at least from the home side’s point of view. “So it took us maybe 20 minutes to get to grips with what we were asking the players to do. But once we did, we looked okay. And we looked even better again after half-time. We were much more of a threat. And in the final stages, it looked like we were going to go and win the game. But the bottom line is that this was a good work-out for the boys. We haven’t had much time to get them up to speed. This is why we made so many substitutions. I wanted to give everyone some time. And it was a good work-out.”

  Amidst all those comings and goings, Malcolm also found time to switch the system of play and the formation of his side at the end of the first 45 minutes.

  “We started with a 4-1-3-2 formation,” continued Malcolm. “We wanted to keep two strikers up the park so that we can be a threat. What was more difficult was getting the three to grasp what we were looking for upfront, more when we’re not in possession of the ball than when we are. So in the second half, we went back to what is a more standard 4-4-2. This is when we looked a lot more comfortable in terms of our attacking play. 

  “We were always round about the box making opportunities to score goals. That’s something we are really emphasising. Once the ball goes forward into the final third, we need to make sure we show better quality when in possession of the ball. In the second half, we did that. In the first-half, we got into those areas but were too ‘fuzzy’ and made some wrong decisions. When we did that, play broke down and gave the Elgin the chance to break on us. But we sorted that. I was a lot happier when we came out of that ‘fuzziness.’ There was more intensity on display and we made better decisions. I saw some good play today and some good individual performances.”

  Perhaps just as pleasing as that gradual improvement in play was the fact that the already depleted Forfar squad emerged unscathed. The last thing Malcolm needs in what has already been a season of seemingly endless physical misfortune is yet more injuries. By the end of the game, the manager was clearly relieved to see all of his men able to leave the pitch under their own steam. 

  “These sorts of games are difficult for managers,” continued Malcolm. “I’ve moaned a lot about injuries to our key players this season, which is why I made so many substitutions. I’m petrified of more injuries. We cannot afford any more. So I was concerned about giving people too long. We’ve only had a week of training before the game today. That’s not a lot of time to get a load through their bodies. The guys are fit. But when the ball moves in an unexpected direction the subconscious reaction that follows can cause injury. So we have to be careful. 

  “On that front, Steven Doris wasn’t with us today. He has undergone an operation that has nothing to do with football. But he’ll be back with us by the end of the month. We’re also hopeful we can add two or three more players to our group, which will propel us forward over the rest of the league season. There’s still a lot to look forward to.”

  Indeed. Bottom line? It was just good to be back.