MATCH PREVIEW: Dunfermline Athletic v Forfar Athletic

The ‘Loons’ head to the Kingdom of Fife on Saturday to face what on paper is undoubtedly the hardest of their four remaining league fixtures against the already crowned and deserved champions of the Ladbrokes League One, Dunfermline Athletic.

The ‘Pars’, favourites with the bookmakers since August have rarely looked like being caught this term and duly clinched the title with their win over Brechin City two weeks back.

Further honours followed this midweek when Alan Johnston was named Manager of the Month in the division for March, thirty goal striker Faissal El Bakhtaoui, the Player of the Month. No one would bet against both picking up the seasonal awards into the bargain come early May.

The East End Park boss has stated that there is no way that his players are to ‘take the foot of the pedal’ in their remaining games and that was perhaps illustrated with a gritty 1-0 win at Albion Rovers last Saturday.

The visitors will go into the game boosted by the performance and more importantly the final outcome of their home success over Peterhead last weekend.

Early second half counters from Danny Denholm and Steven Craig clinched the points for the Athies and the good news is that Steven who limped off late in the contest with the ‘Blue Toon’ outfit should be fit come 3p.m. on Saturday to continue his fruitful partnership up front with Andy Ryan.

Euan Spark sidelined since the Ayr fixture with a shoulder injury is also likely to be given the go ahead to resume his defensive duties.

Another plus for the home management team saw Martyn Fotheringham get a run out with the Development side in midweek.

It will be a major boost to the ‘Loons’ survival hopes if they can take something from Saturday’s ninety minutes against a home side who have won all four league and cup games between the teams this term to date with an aggregate score of 15-2 at present.

However a continuance of the form shown in the games against Ayr United and Peterhead and anything is possible.

As ever and as is always the case at this time of the season in this type of scenario, the eyes and ears of the visiting support and let’s hope quite a few make the short journey to East End Park will also be on events just along the road at Central Park as well as at the Excelsior Stadium as the afternoon’s action unfolds.

The man in the middle on Saturday is the vastly experienced Craig Charleston.