cinch Championship – Queen’s Park v Ayr United (Friday 3rd February)
It’s back-to-back Friday night Championship football for Lee Bullen’s Honest Men as they travel to Ochilview to take on fellow promotion chasers Queen’s Park.
The Spiders suffered their first league defeat since November last Saturday, falling to a 3-0 loss away to Dundee. Owen Coyle’s side remain at the top of the table but have just a single point advantage over tonight’s opponents. For that reason, a quick return to form is a necessary one, especially when you factor in that Dundee are just two points off the summit with a game in hand over the top two teams. Queen’s Park’s end to the January transfer window took a surprising turn with top scorer and talismanic striker Simon Murray leaving for Ross County. Attacking reinforcements have been recruited in the form of Euan Henderson & Connor Shields. Both will need to hit the ground running in what is an incredibly tight race for promotion.
It has been a very successful week for Ayr United. Twice they have travelled north to take on Cove Rangers and twice they have come away with comfortable victories. Last Friday’s 5-0 thrashing was followed up by a 3-0 Scottish Cup win in midweek. As well as this, Ayr have managed to secure the permanent signing of Josh Mullin, who had been a revelation on loan from Livingston in the first half of the season. Momentum is certainly building in Lee Bullen’s side and they will be full of confidence heading into this evening’s fixture, with the opportunity to potentially leapfrog Queen’s into top spot being a huge motivation. Ayr have already beaten their opponents twice this season, but a third victory would be the most significant of the lot.
cinch League 1 – Dunfermline Athletic v Montrose (Saturday 4th February)
A clash between two promotion chasers at East End as the league leaders get set to take on a Montrose side who are just outside the play-off places.
Last weekend’s draw away to Clyde was certainly an unplanned bump in the road for James McPake’s side. Martin Rennie’s early goal was cancelled out by Josh Edwards but the Pars just couldn’t find the decisive second, meaning two points dropped and allowing rivals Falkirk the chance to close the gap to five points. Despite dropping points, losing games doesn’t seem to be an option for the Pars, who have suffered just one league defeat all season – ironically, away to this weekend’s opponents back in October. Dunfermline are yet to taste defeat on their own patch in League 1 and will be looking to get back to winning ways and maintaining (or extending) their lead at the top of the table.
Montrose’s form has been rather patchy over the last month or so although they are without defeat in their last two league matches, having followed up a 1-0 win over Queen of the South with a 3-3 draw versus Kelty Hearts. The latter of which took a stoppage-time equaliser from Nathan Austin to deny the Mo all three points at Links Park. Montrose currently sit in sixth place, just two points behind fourth-placed Airdrie but have played a game more than the Diamonds. They also have Queen of the South & Kelty Hearts both breathing down their neck, just five points worse off. Three points on Saturday would be a massive help in not only boosting Montrose’s play-off hopes, but also fending off the chasing pack below. It would take a change in fortunes, though, as the Mo haven’t won on the road in L1 since mid-November.
cinch League 2 – Stenhousemuir v Dumbarton (Saturday 4th February)
This looks like being a fascinating clash at Ochilview as the much-improved Warriors host the league leaders in the first of two meetings between the teams this month - they square up again in a rearranged fixture on Tuesday February 28.
Dumbarton remain four points clear of Stirling Albion – albeit having played a game more – and maintained their unbeaten home record with a 1-0 victory over Bonnyrigg last time out. Stevie Farrell’s side have been very consistent this season and coming through this fixture with another three points would be another significant result as they seek an immediate return to League 1.
The Sons were 3-1 winners at Ochilview back in August but Gary Naysmith has made a positive impact since taking over from Stephen Swift in January, with two wins and a draw so far. Stenhousemuir are sixth in the table but last week’s 2-0 home win over Elgin City means they are only two points outside the promotion play-offs and they must fancy their chances of finishing in the top four. Despite an up and down campaign to date, Stenny have a solid home record of four wins, four draws and three defeats and will be aiming to upset the leaders tomorrow.
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