Dumbarton v Forfar Athletic – match preview

After a welcome seven day break, the ‘Loons’ return to competitive action with an away fixture at Dumbarton on Tuesday evening.

This is the first of their four post-split fixtures which will be completed over an eight-day period.

The Athies go into this quartet of games in a precarious position at the foot of the SPFL League One, eight points adrift of Tuesday’s opponents, nine behind third-bottom Clyde who re-visit Station Park on Thursday evening.

There is little doubt that four victories over the week will be the requirement for Gary Irvine and his ‘troops’ to have any chance of saving themselves from the dreaded drop.

No easy task when one surveys the record to date, but all live in hope!

Nevertheless, the players were in good spirits throughout an extended Saturday early afternoon training session and there are no fresh injury worries tor report for Tuesday’s clash.

Jim Duffy’s outfit lost 2-1 away to East Fife on Saturday, this following on from a 2-0 home defeat to the new league leaders Partick Thistle last midweek.

Forfar have in fact picked up four points from their two fixtures against the ‘Sons’ to date in this truncated campaign.

On the opening day back in mid-October, it was one point apiece from a goalless draw, the ‘Loons’ picking up the three points courtesy of a bizarre own goal which has become a youtube favourite,  on the day ‘hostilities’ resumed in mid-March.

Matthew MacDermid, Tuesday night’s man in the middle referees a Forfar Athletic match for the first time.

Tuesday night’s other League One fixtures are Clyde v East Fife in the bottom half of the table, Cove Rangers v Partick Thistle and Airdrieonians v Montrose in the top half.