The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Weir demands Forfar set down cup marker
Station Park side and Montrose hope to snatch first derby win of season
In a season that will be brimful of Angus derbies, Forfar and Montrose will look to claim the first victory tonight.
The two clubs are in League One this year along with Brechin and Arbroath.
And this evening’s Betfred Cup clash at Station Park represents a chance to put down a marker.
Forfar boss Jim Weir said: “The league derbies will be crucial to how well we do this season.
“Whenever you play one, whether it’s the cup or the league, you want to win it and this one will be no different. The players are up for them and the supporters want to win so much.
“I watched Montrose go toe to toe with St Johnstone on Saturday. A lot of teams are introducing new players but they are a very settled unit. They are well drilled and everybody knows their job.”
Forfar got a better result against East Fife than when they played Falkirk but Weir was happier with what he saw in the defeat than the draw and penalty shootout win.
“I was delighted with how we played against Falkirk but we didn’t get the rewards,” he said.
“We got two points away at East Fife but it was the complete opposite. It was very poor. We didn’t gel as a team.
“I was disappointed and the guys were disappointed as well, which is a good sign. It felt like a defeat to them.
“We need to make sure we do better against Montrose.” A win for Montrose would give them a good chance progressing to the next round.
“That was never in our thoughts,” admitted manager Stewart Petrie.
“It’s been about improving our fitness and using as many players in our squad as we can.
“We did well against St Johnstone on Saturday. We needed our keeper to stop it from being two or three but in the last 15 minutes we hit the woodwork twice.
“Overall, I was really pleased with how the boys played against a very good, powerful and quick St Johnstone side.”
He added: “It’s always nice for me to go back to Station Park.
“Jim has put together a strong squad. Playing them and East Fife will give us a good indication of what we’re going to come up against in League One.”
Jamie Redman, Graham Webster and Liam Callaghan are available. Michael Bolochoweckyj is injured and Paul Watson suspended. of