Dumbarton v Forfar Athletic – match preview
[Thursday, 20 February 2020 18:27]
Ladbrokes League 1
Venue – C&G Systems stadium
Date – Saturday 22nd February – kick-off 3 p.m.
Admission Prices – Stand – Adults £16 Concessions – (OAP’s & 13/16-year-olds) £10 12 & Under £8 Parent/Child £20
League Position;- Dumbarton – 6th – 29 points from 24 games Forfar Athletic – 9th – 23 points from 24 games
Previous results this season; –
Dumbarton 3 Forfar Athletic 1 at C&G Systems Stadium on 5.10.19
Dumbarton 3 Forfar Athletic 0 at C&G Systems Stadium on 23.11.19 (Scottish Cup)
Forfar Athletic 3 Dumbarton 4 at Station Park on 14.12.19
Summary – The ‘Loons’ head to Dumbarton on Saturday for what is without doubt another vital game as they attempt to drag themselves out of the bottom two spots in the League One table.
They will do so on the back of a disappointing second-half performance in the rain last Saturday which in the end saw them settle for a point at home to Stranraer.
It will be the fourth meeting between the sides this season in league and cup with sadly the ‘Sons’ to date returning a one hundred per cent record. However, as they say records are made to be broken!
The last of the previous three fixtures was a bizarre affair in December at Station Park, the home side taking an early lead, the half-time score 3-2 in the Athies favour. Dumbarton, however, ended up victors by the odd goal in seven, one of their second-half counters, a Regan Tumilty strike a candidate for goal of the season.
Stuart Malcolm will head to the banks of the Clyde with a depleted squad.
Michael Travis will sit this game out as the injury sustained in the Stranraer fixture continues to be assessed, while Ryan Shanley by all accounts is likely to be out for at least a month following a training ground accident at parent club Hibernian.
Youngster George Stanger who replaced Michael just prior to the half time whistle on Saturday past is likely to retain his place at the heart of the ‘Loons’ defence, while only time will tell if the management team are contemplating any further changes to a starting eleven from a pool of some seventeen fit players at present.
The home side managed by the evergreen Jim Duffy has had a fairly poor month to date losing two games away to Eat Fife and Montrose while picking up a point in a goalless home draw with Airdrie.
They brought in five new players in January including Ross Forbes who headed back west from the Station Park ranks, all five in fact in the starting eleven at Links Park last weekend.
Forfar will have to improve on a formbook that has seen them ship ten goals already this season against Saturday’s opponents, but there is no reason why this cannot be the case.
A positive result is an ultimate aim at the start of a busy eight days with clashes against Peterhead away and East Fife at home also on the horizon.
Match Officials – Referee – Peter Stuart Assistants – Daniel McFarlane & Steven MacDonald
Saturday Ladbrokes League 1 Fixtures – East Fife v Stranraer, Falkirk v Montrose, Peterhead v Airdrieonians, Raith Rovers v Clyde
