IMPROVING FORFAR face a crucial home county spell, beginning today when they play host to East Stirling.

The Loons have been great travellers so far this campaign, but are yet to record a win at Station Park.

Their confidence is high, though, and the squad has been boosted by the return of Pat Keogh, while Andy Tod may get his chance after sitting on the bench during last weekend’s win at Elgin.

Boss Dick Campbell said, “We’re in Angus for the next four weeks...so hopefully the performances can kick in and we can continue to improve in the second quarter.

“It was a really good performance at Elgin last week and the team is getting better all the time.”

The last time these sides met, Forfar ran away with a 3-0 win.

East Stirling have Derek Ure suspended for this game, and manager Jim McInally has also trimmed his squad by allowing Stephen Oates to go out on loan to Dunipace and David Thornton to Jeanfield Swifts on a similar basis.

McInally said, “We got beaten quite badly by Forfar last time, so we need to be up for this one.”

David Hannah is two weeks into the caretaker job at MONTROSE and his steep learning curve will continue when the club makes its first visit to Annan Athletic.

“I learned a lot last Saturday and I now know this is not a league for getting the ball down and passing it,” said Hannah.

“Stenhousemuir had two guys at the back who cleared their lines and got the ball forward to their strikers as quickly as possible.

“There might be less emphasis on building from the back in future and more on getting the ball forward.”

With that in mind Hannah has made his first signing—David Craig, a 6ft 3ins tall left-back from Arthurlie, who was signed on Thursday night and is certain to play at some stage today.

Hannah will have Chris McLeod available again and the manager is likely to include himself in the squad—at least in the immediate future.

“I am fit enough and will wait and see how it goes over the next few weeks,” he said.

Annan have lost their last five games in league and cup and manager Harry Cairney is looking for his side to recreate their early season form.

Cairney said, “We need to get back to what we were doing when we first entered the league and show the form we did then.”

Cairney’s cause is not helped by having Mike Jack and Kevin Neilsen suspended for this one, although the rest of the Galabank squad have been passed fit.