Match Preview – Raith Rovers v Forfar Athletic

Ladbrokes League 1

Venue – Starks Park

Date – Saturday, February 2nd – kick-off 3 p.m.

Admission Prices – Adults £15 Concessions £8 Parent & Child £20

League Positions – Raith Rovers – 2nd place – 39 points from 22 games Forfar Athletic – 4th place – 36 points from 22 games

Previous Results this Season – Raith Rovers 4 Forfar Athletic 0 at Starks Park on 1.9.18 Forfar Athletic 3 Raith Rovers 2 at Station Park on 27.10.18

Summary – The big games on paper come thick and fast for the ‘Loons’ these days, although there is always the adage that all games are ‘big’ games and that, to be honest, is a fact!

However, after a cup tie at Kilmarnock, an away day against runaway league leaders Arbroath, it is now a trip over the Tay this Saturday to face second in the table Raith Rovers.

The Athies will travel in good heart on the back of four successive league victories, but low in numbers, Jim Weir at present having only a sixteen man pool to select from.

Last Saturday’s starting line-up are all available, but from the subs bench, Michael Kennedy has moved on and scorer on his debut Brad Spencer serves the first game of a two-match suspension following his red card late in the game at Gayfield.

The Station Park officials gave due consideration to appealing that decision but decided that at the end of the day the evidence did not stack up to firmly prove an obvious error by the match official.

Will Jim Weir make any changes to last week’s starters with Dylan Easton, Lewis Moore, Eddie Malone and Matthew Aitken waiting in the wings. Only time will tell but the Forfar support who look likely to head for Kirkcaldy in reasonable numbers will be relishing the occasion and the challenge.

Raith have had a mixed January, the highlights the cup victory over local rivals Dunfermline Athletic and a 5-1 league triumph over Stenhousemuir, the low point the 2-1 defeat at Brechin on Saturday past.

Striker Lewis Vaughan picked up an injury at the Glebe, while Rovers who had already brought in Tony Dingwall from Ross County and Craig McGuffie from Ayr in the ‘window’ further strengthened their squad in midweek with the recruitment on loan from Rangers of midfielder Jamie Barjonas.

Forfar’s recent run has been a real team effort with hardly a failure in sight and commendable commitment throughout the side and a continuation of this situation at Starks Park will please all involved.

Cway the ‘Loons.’

Match Officials – Referee – Colin Steven Assistants – Andy Milne & Calum Doyle

Supporters Information – A few seats are still available on the Supporters Coach which is scheduled to leave the Myre Car Park at 12.30p.m.

The Raith Suite within the main stand at Starks Park will be open from 12.30p.m. onwards. Supporters of both clubs welcome.