MATCH PREVIEW: Edinburgh City v Forfar Athletic

The ‘Loons’ will be hoping to get their season back on track following three successive defeats when they visit Meadowbank Stadium on Saturday for a second round tie in the William Hill Scottish Cup.

This is the first time since 2009 that the Athies have entered the competition at this early stage and they know that despite the Capital City club’s disappointing start to their league campaign, they will have a hard fought ninety minutes in front of them.

Gary Jardine’s side in their first season in the Ladborkes League 2 have to date failed to secure a victory in either cup or league, but they have in recent week’s come ever so close.   A 1-1 draw down at Annan, followed by the sharing of six goals at home to Arbroath are testament to that and by all accounts they were unlucky to lose 1-0 at home to Clyde last weekend.

The teams have already crossed swords in Edinburgh on the first day of the league campaign, with the visitors picking up the points courtesy of a 3-2 win.   David Cox gave Forfar an early lead, Craig Beattie netting the equaliser, before Lewis Milne restored the visitors advantage four minutes before the break.   Jim Lister made it 3-1 in the 81st minute, City’s Ross Guthrie netting a second for the home side as the game entered added on time.   

The ‘Loons’ success on the day was marred by the issuing of a red card to David Cox alongside the homesters Joe Mbu following a goalmouth stramash after the final whistle had sounded.

Back to this Saturday’s tussle and a ‘wounded’ Forfar side following league defests to Montrose and Arbroath and an Irn Bru exit at the hands of the impressive New Saints will be hoping to come out into the slightly eerie atmosphere of the soon to be partly demolished stadium with all ‘guns blazing.’

Manager Gary Bollan though could be faced with a few selection headaches with Tam O’Brien, Michael Kennedy and Lewis Milne all injury concerns.

Danny Denholm, Murray MacKintosh and Marc Scott are presumably on stand by and certainly more than adequate replacements if required.

Jamie Bain red carded in last week’s Gayfield fixture is available for the tie, as his one match ban kicks in when City are again the opponents on points gathering business a week on Saturday at Station Park.

Club officials spent the past weekend debating whether to appeal Jamie’s sending off, but at the end of the day had to accept that although they felt the decision extremely harsh, the video evidence was not conclusive enough to proceed.

The referee for the tie is experienced Ayrshire based official Kevin Graham.

Kick-off is at 3p.m. and should the tie be all square after ninety minutes, the replay at Station Park would take place on Tuesday November 1st.

Admission charges on Saturday are £12 for adults, £6 concessions, with under 12’s priced at £2.