Forfar Athletic v Arbroath – Match Information & Preview

Viaplay Cup – Group H
Venue – Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park
Tuesday 25th July – ko 7.45p.m.

Admission – Adults £12 Concessions £6 (Cash Turnstiles only)
Turnstiles open 7p.m. prompt
FAFC Season Tickets not valid for this fixture

1984 Lounge at Ground open to supporters from 6.15p.m. till kick-off.
(Situated at the East End of the Main Stand)

Refreshment Kiosk and Club Shop both within the ground open as normal

Preview
The ‘Loons’ return to action after a seven day break when Arbroath will be most welcome visitors to Station Park on what is for both clubs match day three within their group in the Viaplay Cup.
To date the two teams have had differing fortunes.

Ray McKinnon’s side after negotiating a tricky home game with Lowland League Cowdenbeath and escaping with three points courtesy of a 1-0 win, proceeded to play a fast, attacking and pleasing to eye brand of football at Links Park last midweek against Montrose, fully deserving their 2-1 success on the night, most pundits present agreeing that the margin of victory could have been greater.

The ‘Lichties’ began their campaign with a 1-1 home draw against Cowdenbeath, picking up a bonus point courtesy of the penalty shoot-out, before losing 4-0 at Paisley on Saturday past to a slick looking St. Mirren side who showed at times over the ninety minutes why they finished in the top six in the Premiership last term.

The home side will go into Tuesday night’s contest with the same sixteen man pool as in the opening two ties. Andy Munro and Darren Whyte though both are progressing are still ruled out by injury and although the manager is keen to bolster his squad further, he is rightly taking his time in the hope of getting the right type of player on board whether it be on loan or as a permanent fixture.

There has been much to please the ‘Loons’ support in the matches played to date. In last week’s preview, we highlighted the tight knit defensive unit, but some of the work of the midfield quartet which culminated in some sublime final balls at Links Park was a joy to watch.

Josh Skelly given time to re-adjust to SPFL football also looks like he will be a handful for many a defence in League2 as the season progresses.

Another pleasing feature of the opening games has been the contribution of players introduced at different times from the bench into the thick of the action.

Ray McKinnon is under no illusions however, knowing that Tuesday night’s opponents are now established as the best part-time team in the country a fact that all at Gayfield are rightly proud of.
He is nevertheless looking forward to the match and will have his squad in the right frame of mind for the match, knowing that a three point haul would give the ‘Loons’ a more than reasonable chance though not a certainty of qualifying for the lucrative knock-out stages of the competition.

Arbroath manager Dick Campbell despite being quoted over the weekend as saying that their final two sectional matches are in the main preparation for their opening Championship fixture against Dundee United on Friday week will also without doubt have his players geared up and ready for the ninety minutes ahead of them on the night.
Dick has to date made eight close season signings from north and south of the border, six of them playing a part in Paisley on Saturday past.

One of the most notable was of course our former skipper Craig Slater who will make a quick return to Station Park, alongside two other former ‘Loons’ in Tam O’Brien another who wore the armband in his time at Forfar and Ryan Dow.

On paper a classic encounter is in prospect, but as all managers say football is played on grass or of course these days also on a 3 or 4G pitch!
Home fans will certainly be hoping for a better performance than on the last occasion the sides met, Arbroath getting the better of an insipid on the day visiting outfit to the tune of 3-0 in a Scottish Cup clash at Gayfield in November of 2021.

As is always the case in the League Cup these days, if the scores are level after ninety minutes, a penalty shot-out will take place with a bonus point up for grabs for the winners.

The man in the middle for the game is Duncan Williams, last in charge of a fixture at Station Park back in early January when Elgin City were the visitors.

A reminder to supporters of both sides to arrive as early as possible with a larger than normal attendance hoped for.

The other game in the group on the night sees Cowdenbeath play host to St. Mirren, the ‘Loons’ heading west on Saturday to face the ‘Buddies’, Arbroath due to welcome near neighbours Montrose to Gayfield.