Weir says lessons learned as Forfar bid to bounce back

Jim Weir wants to see the low of the worst Forfar performance since he took over followed up with the high of an Angus derby win.

The Station Park boss believes the Arbroath team his side will face today is the strongest Gayfield outfit he has known since he started out as a manager at Montrose.

And an improvement from the Loons will be needed after the Scottish Cup exit to Formartine United last weekend.

Weir said: “We just didn’t compete or handle the conditions.

“It was blowing a gale and they dealt better with it than we did.

“Lessons have been learned and I take responsibility because I don’t think I picked the right side. “They won the battle in midfield. “It was a really poor performance. Even though we lost 5-0 at home to Ayr United, this was worse.

“We’d worked hard for our momentum in the league before the cup game and we don’t want to lose that.”

On the challenge his old club will pose today, Weir noted: “Over the years I’ve been a manager I think this is the strongest team I’ve seen at Arbroath.

“They’re deservedly going well. “But it’s a derby game and we have to be ready for the battle and give our supporters something to shout about.

“If we show a strong mentality we can get three points, which would mean we might be only six points off fourth.”

Weir, who confirmed that injured Jim Lister has left the club, will be without six players who would have started if fit.

Michael Kennedy is the latest one to be sidelined after injuring knee ligaments in the cup game.

However, Weir said: “We have enough quality to win games.”

Picture: Dougie Nicolson. Injured Jim Lister has left Forfar, who will be without six players who would have started against Arbroath.