Forfar head to Airdrie for Saturday evening’s BBC ALBA live TV game, kick-off 5.30pm, but manager Dick Campbell is taking nothing for granted.
The Station Park men sit second in the table, 15 points ahead of the Diamonds, but Campbell has huge respect for the Lanarkshire side.
He said: “In all my time as a player, coach and manager, and that goes back quite a time, I have never had an easy game with Airdrie. They are a good side again under Gary Bollan this season and they are in a false position in the table.
“I could not believe when I saw they were 15 points below us but that is mainly due to the poor start they had to the season. We cannot take any comfort from the league placings and the players know they will have to be at their best to win.
“Airdrie will finish the season higher than seventh place but hopefully their rise will not happen until after this game.”
The Loons took all three points from the Excelsior Stadium earlier this season thanks to a last-minute goal from Gavin Swankie. Jim Lister had given Airdrie the lead in the first half and Dale Hilson levelled, with the Loons having to rely on former Scotland goalkeeper Robert Douglas to deny Scott Gray before Swankie headed in.
Forfar also had to come from behind to grab a share of the points when they played Airdrie at Station Park, with Michael Dunlop scoring with nine minutes left to cancel out Paddy Boyle’s opener.
Campbell said: “Those two games were typical of the encounters I have had against Airdrie throughout my career. Nothing is given up easily and we had to dig deep to get the four points.
“They will battle hard again in this game but, as I have said before, the outcome of this game will be decided by what the Forfar players do. If they play to their potential and do their jobs properly then we can pick up a win in front of the TV cameras.
“We put in a great performance to defeat Peterhead 3-1 last Saturday. That made it three wins from four games so I am pleased with how we are going about things.
“People have written the likes of Forfar and Stranraer off this season but we are still in there fighting for things at the top of the table. We are a point behind top spot and I am happy with where we are.”
Throughout his management career Campbell has not been one to change a winning team without due cause, however he may be forced into doing that at Airdrie.
The Loons boss explained: “Dale Hilson picked up a knock at the start of January and has been easing himself back in. He has been a substitute in recent games but in training earlier this week he was in sensational form.
“I am considering starting with Dale as he was so good. We will need everyone to be at their best for this game.”
Craig Stewart
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