Airdrieonians v Forfar Athletic - Match Preview

Ladbrokes League 1

Venue – Penny Cars Stadium

Date – Saturday November 3rd – kick-off 3p.m.

Admission Prices – Adults £16  Concessions £10  Under 16’s £7

League Positions – Airdrieonians  – 5^th place – 13  points from 11 games   Forfar Athletic – 4^th place – 15 points from 11 games

Previous result this season;- Forfar Athletic  1 (Hilson 41 mins) Airdrieonians 3 (Conroy 80 mins.  McIntosh 83 mins. Vitoria 86 mins) at Station Park on 4.8.18

Summary – The ‘Loons’ head for Lanarkshire on Saturday hoping to make it three wins on the bounce in the Ladbrokes League 1 and also no doubt thirsting for revenge following their 3-1 defeat on the league’s opening day at the hands of the ‘Diamonds.’

That fixture back in early August was indeed a strange affair with the home side in control of proceedings until the ‘roof fell in’ quite literally in the closing ten minutes.

Jim Weir’s charges should be in confident mood following last week’s victory over Raith Rovers. Their second half performance in particular against the Kirkcaldy outfit brought the Station Park terraces to life.

The three point haul for the second successive Saturday also saw the Athies move into the top four in what is however Arbroath apart, a very congested scenario.

There are by all accounts no fresh injury or illness worries for Jim Weir to contend with and he will also be hopeful that Rangers loanee Aidan Wilson will be declared fit which will give him the ‘luxury’ of being able to list eighteen fully fit players on the team sheet.

Airdrie who have now had a couple of weeks under the stewardship of new  manager former Dumbarton and St. Mirren boss Ian Murray following the departure of Stephen Findlay in the wake of a 3-1 home defeat from Brechin back in early October.

Since then two Darryl Duffy counters inspired them to a 3-0 success at Links Park before the fell to a solitary and late goal at home to Stenhousemuir last weekend.

Like many sides in the division, Airdrie brought in a host of new faces both in the close season and prior to the window shutting, thirteen at the last count, eight of whom were in last Saturday’s starting line up.

Forfar fans will be certainly be hopeful that the creative and attacking form of last Saturday will be maintained against no doubt well fired up opponents and that hopefully Michael and his colleagues can repeat their victory at the same venue on the final day of last season.

Match Officials – Referee –  Craig Napier  Assistants – Brian Templeton & David Milton