Annan Athletic v Forfar Athletic – match preview

The ‘Loons’ open their cinch League 2 campaign on Saturday at Galabank against Annan Athletic, the first time the clubs have ‘crossed swords’ since May of 2017 when the Athies came out on top over two legs in a League One Play-Off semi-final tie.

Gary Irvine and his squad head south on the back of an encouraging Premier Sports Cup campaign, which came to a conclusion with a second-half fightback at Dens Park last weekend, this after the home side had dominated proceedings in the first 45.

Sadly Michael Travis is sidelined following a hamstring tear in the first period at Dens Park which saw him immediately substituted.   Thankfully the injury is not as bad as first feared and he could be back in full training within four weeks.

Michael joins long term absentees Steven Anderson and Darren Whyte on the injury list although again the news from the treatment room is encouraging.  A return to action for Steven would appear to be on the horizon, with Darren hopefully regaining full fitness by early autumn at the latest.

Gary has however the luxury of recalling Luke Strachan and Sam Fisher to his squad for Saturday’s encounter after both were unable of course to participate against their parent club on Saturday past.

Annan like so many other clubs in the bottom two tiers of the SPFL have recruited around a dozen new faces to date in the close season a handful from their neighbours from just over the border, Carlisle United and non-league Carlisle City.

Peter Murphy’s side finished bottom of a very tough section in the Premier Sports Cup picking up two points courtesy of penalty shoot-out bonus point away to Airdrieonians, but lost out over the ninety minutes to Queen of the South, Queens Park and Motherwell.

The ‘Loons’ management and players will be hoping to get off to a winning start to the league season at Annan, to put them in the right frame of mind for successive home games that follow against last season’s League Two runners-up Edinburgh City and bookies favourites for this season’s title Kelty Hearts.

Saturday’s referee is Graham Grainger.

The other fixtures on the cinch league 2 opening day card are;- Albion Rovers v Edinburgh City, Elgin City v Stranraer, Kelty Hearts v Cowdenbeath, Stenhousemuir v Stirling Albion