Forfar boss Dick Campbell’s squad is down to the bare bones for tonight’s Scottish Cup replay with local rivals Brechin City.
The manager was gutted that his players were hit with a late sucker punch at Dunfermline on Saturday, which denied them a notable victory, but the draw also came at a cost, with several players picking up injuries.
Campbell was already resigned to being without Mark Baxter and Stuart Malcolm for tonight’s game as they are suspended after being red carded in the first tie at Glebe Park, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
On-loan Aberdeen youngster Craig Storie, who was not allowed to play in cup games anyway, has now been recalled by the Dons.
The Station Park gaffer insists that his remaining fit players are determined to win, with the carrot of a home tie against Premiership St Johnstone in the fifth round dangling in front of them.
Campbell said: “I was delighted with the response of the players on Saturday following our painful Rangers defeat last week.
“I was absolutely gutted for the lads, though, at Dunfermline. I felt we thoroughly deserved to take all three points.
“We played really well and it was a huge kick in the teeth to lose such a late goal. However, we now have a real injury crisis for the cup game.
“Dale Hilson and Omar Kader are definitely out while there are big doubts over Iain Campbell and Gavin Swankie.
“We also have Stuart Malcolm and Mark Baxter suspended while Craig Storie has returned to Aberdeen following his loan spell.
“So I have gone from having 22 players available last week to possibly having only 14 for this cup game. To be honest, sometimes it can work out well when the team picks itself.
“All the players know that they have the prospect of a home game against St Johnstone in the next round, which is a huge incentive.
“Games between ourselves and local rivals Brechin are usually close but hopefully playing at Station Park will give us the edge.”
Meanwhile, Brechin boss Ray McKinnon insists he senses a real determination from his players to “right the wrong” after they were denied victory against Forfar when Martyn Fotheringham equalised with the last kick of the game.
City have just had a free weekend as their game on Saturday against Airdrie was postponed because of a frozen Glebe Park pitch now, they are looking to put Forfar’s cup dreams into cold storage tonight.
McKinnon said: “We were all really frustrated that the game on Saturday had to be called off. We were looking forward to it but the park was frozen on Thursday night and, although we got the covers down, there was no guarantee that it would have thawed out.
“We had a similar feeling of frustration after the last game with Forfar. We did more than enough to win the game only for them to score with what proved to be the last kick of the match.
“I wouldn’t say we have unfinished business with Forfar, more a sense of real determination from the lads to face St Johnstone in the next round.
“We know it will be tough at Station Park as they are on a decent run and playing well but we are looking to right the wrong from the last game.”
Brechin will be without the suspended Ewan Moyes and Stuart Anderson as well as Bobby Barr, who is recovering from a hernia op.
Paul McLean is also a doubt and McKinnon added: “We have a wee headache selection wise but we have a decent squad and will be able to cope.”
* The Brechin v Airdrie game that was called off on Saturday has been rearranged for next Tuesday December 17, with a 7.45pm kick-off.