East Fife 2 Forfar Athletic 0

SPFL League 1

Locality Hub Bayview Stadium

Saturday 19 December 2020

There have been better days and matches than this for Forfar Athletic. And the hope is that there will be better days and matches to come. But there was no disguising manager Stuart Malcolm’s disappointment at the end of a 2-0 defeat to East Fife that leaves the Loons bottom of League One. As the Forfar boss was quick to acknowledge, his men were beaten by the “better team.”

  Indeed, the numbers don’t lie. Not the important ones anyway. Despite having 46 percent possession over the 90-minutes, Forfar managed only one shot on goal, versus 16 by East Fife. Of those, the home team were on target with six, the visitors' none. 

  The problem, as Malcolm saw it, was not a lack of effort or work-rate, but decision-making in the vital final-third of the pitch. Too often, Forfar’s forwards were too intricate, wanting just one more touch before passing or shooting. Invariably that added up to one touch too many and opportunities to shoot or score were lost. Throw in the brace of individual mistakes that led to both goals and it was a tough day all round for the Loons.

  “For the first 15 minutes the lads gave me everything I had asked for,” said Malcolm. “They were excellent, even when they were up against it. But one error before half-time lead to the first goal. Yes, they got into a few good areas but we defended those well enough at times. The second goal came from another error and that cost us dearly. After that, East Fife had their tails up, popping the ball about. To be honest, they could have scored more.

  “But goals change games. After the first one, we still had a fighting chance. We came out in the second half and we were into it. We got the ball forward. We looked dangerous. We got into good areas. But we followed all that with poor decisions. It’s just frustrating. If I could get on Saturdays what I see on Tuesday and Thursday at training then we wouldn’t be where we are in the table. We just aren’t doing enough when we are in possession of the ball.”

  Malcolm’s analysis is, as ever, accurate. No manager can legislate for player error. That happens, but also tends to lead to the loss of cheap goals. Which is what transpired at New Bayview. 

  For the first goal, Forfar “switched off” for 30 seconds at a free-kick, allowing East Fife forward Jack Hamilton unexpected space to shoot and score off the post. And the second actually stemmed from a Forfar throw-in, former Loon Danny Denholm left with the simplest of chances despite brave blocks from first goalkeeper Marc McCallum then Ross Meechan. Later, McCallum would distinguish himself with a wonder save to prevent a third counter.

  Clearly, given the length of the injury-list, reinforcements are required at both ends of the pitch, a fact acknowledged by Malcolm.

  “The January transfer window is just around the corner, a time when we have to make changes,” he said. “We need bodies to come in. We’re working on that just now. We need a couple of centre-halves, none of that a criticism of big Kyle Dalling today. He was excellent for a young lad making his league debut. He fought his corner well, coming into a team that is struggling. 

  “We also need a striker who can hold the ball up and take us up the park. Steven Dorris is key for us, but he’s not fit. He’s working away behind the scenes with the physios to try and get himself back. He’s vital to us, Ross Meechan too. As we’ve seen the last few weeks he can play in the middle of the defence. But he’s a full-back. So we need an experienced figure in the middle to help out. The problem is finding those players. Experienced centre-halves are like hen’s teeth. So are ‘hold-up’ strikers. But we’ll keep looking.”

  There was, amidst the understandable disappointment at Forfar’s fifth loss in eight league games, some characteristic defiance from Malcolm, a hard-tackling stopper during his playing days. There was also realism. And some self-analysis.

  “I played for this club for a number of years and I’m never beat,” he said. “We just have to be better. And the fight goes on. I’ve played for Forfar at both ends of the league, so I know what it takes. Right now, it’s roll our sleeves up and get on with it. I’m certainly not beaten and neither is anyone on the coaching staff. I’m looking at everything I’m doing, both right and wrong. Barry (Sellars) is too. And Foxy (Martin Fotheringham). Like the players, we clearly need to be making better decisions.”