MATCH PREVIEW: Forfar Athletic v Raith Rovers

Both the ‘Loons’ and Raith will enjoy a welcome break from league action when they clash in what is a mouth watering third round  tie in the Irn Bru Cup at Station Park on Saturday.

The home side go into the game with a one hundred per cent league record from four games played, but know it will be a step up in class at the weekend when Gary Locke’s high flying Championship outfit come calling.

The former Hearts and Kilmarnock manager had to carry out a major re-building exercise in the summer bringing in around twelve new faces, most of whom were involved in last week’s 2-2 draw at Tannadice.

One of those newcomers, on loan striker Josh Thompson will not be available for two reasons.   Firstly he was cup tied with his parent club Rangers in a previous round and secondly he is on duty with the Northern Ireland Under 21 squad.

A first starting berth of the season for the Rovers is likely to be handed to former Hearts midfielder Rudi Skacel, while Irishman Connor Brennan will continue in goal as Kevin Cuthbert and Aaron Lennox recover from injury.

It will amazingly be Raith’s third visit of the season already to Station Park, having lost a friendly to the ‘Loons’ 2-0 away back in late June, before overcoming Cove in the Betfred in mid July.

The Athies will go into the game sitting top of the Ladbrokes League 2 table, four points clear of their nearest rivals and in buoyant mood.   Gary Bollan will have to decide whether to change a winning starting line –up with Danny Denholm and Marc Scott in particular waiting in the wings.

An interesting statistic from the visit of Elgin last Saturday and for that matter the game at Shielfield the week before was the fact that Tam O’Brien and  Gavin Swankie were the only players in the starting line-up who were on professional contracts with the club last season.

Kerr Hay has been farmed out to Broughty Athletic to get some game time under his belt while on the injury front Michael Travis is still continuing his long haul back to fitness, while Allan Smith is a slight doubt.

Nine players have shared the nineteen competitive goals that the ‘Loons’ have scored this term to date and it is this fire power that home fans will be hoping will test the visiting defence over the ninety minutes.

However that draw against United last week for Raith came on the back of wins over Dunfermline Athletic, St. Mirren and Ayr United, so the homesters fully realise the difficult task ahead in their attempt to reach round four and the potential of the novelty of a tie against Northern Irish or Welsh opposition.

The visitors anticipate bringing a fairly reasonable travelling support, so hopefully home fans will also turn out in numbers to give Gary and his ‘troops’ their backing.

Admission prices to all parts of the ground are £12 for adults, £6 concessions.

Forfar Athletic season tickets are not valid for this fixture.

The match will be refereed by Lanarkshire based Alan Newlands now in his third season on the Grade One list.

The 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open from 12.30p.m. till kick-off and on the final whistle till approximately 7.30p.m.

Supporters of both sides are welcome.