Forfar Athletic

vs

Hamilton Academical FC

Preview

Forfar Athletic

• Forfar have the momentum into this first leg, unbroken in six games in all competitions after a run of four wins in five.
• A 4-0 thrashing of Edinburgh City and a 1-1 draw away at Annan show that they are capable of winning big or grinding out a result when needed.
• The Loons have been scoring plenty of goals of late, with goals spread across the squad.

Hamilton Academical

• Hamilton’s form has been inconsistent, recording three wins in their last five, but two defeats either side of those victories.
• He has made his team adaptable on the field, switching formations, tempo and wing-backs in-game to best suit his attacking line.

Key Players

• MacKinnon is the perfect manager to steady the ship at South Lanarkshire.
• They have more pedigree and a better player than Forfar in Oli Shaw, the League One top scorer, consistently finding the net.
• Martin Rennie is a big game player and has been the focal point of their attack this season, with Scott Shepherd and Jake Sutherland in good form in recent weeks.
• Forfar boss Jim Weir will have set his team up to be compact and organized, dangerous on the break and set-pieces.

Betting Insights

• Hamilton are favorites to win this one at 1.72, but Forfar are available at an inflated 4.99, while the draw stands at 3.4.
• The over 2.5 goals market appeals at 1.65, but we’re backing the tie at 3.4.

Prediction

• However, we’re going for the draw at Station Park, as the red-hot Loons could make life difficult for Darian MacKinnon’s men in the first leg.
• A 1-1 draw would be a solid correct score prediction, as Forfar are full of confidence, while Hamilton have the individual quality to score at least once in the opening leg.