MATCH PREVIEW – ANNAN ATHLETIC (A)

It’s the start of 10 league games in a month as we resume our League 2 campaign with a trip to face Annan at Galabank.

Our hosts sit a place above us in the table a point ahead although they have played two games more.

In our previous meeting this season Peter Murphy’s side ran out 3-0 winners on the opening day in a match which was switched to Bayview Stadium due to flood damage at Central Park. Nathan Flanagan and Iain Anderson had the visitors two up at the break with Jack Purdue completing the scoring just after the hour.

Since then Annan have won just one further league game, a 2-1 win at Stenhousemuir back on 21 November. Their other points have come from a home 1-1 draw with Stranraer and a goal less match at Brechin. Their last outing was on 2nd January when they went down 2-0 to Stranraer at Stair Park.

In fact you have to go back to 22 February last year for their last home win in the league when they beat Albion Rovers 2-0. The previous week they beat Gala 2-1 in the Scottish Cup and now face a midweek trip to Formartine in the Second Round.


Previous visits to Galabank

The Dumfriesshire ground hasn’t been the happiest of hunting grounds for us since Annan were admitted to the SFL in 2008. Off the previous 10 visits we have only won twice, with six defeats.

Our first win came on our first visit in October 2008 when a Paul McQuade goal gave us a 1-0 win with the home side having Kevin Neilson sent off after just six minutes and Mike Jack following him just short of the hour. Our other win was in November 2018 when goals from Kris Renton and Josh Skelly saw us run out 2-0 winners.

Last season we lost 1-0 in November 2019 with Kyle Wilkie scoring just after the break. The return visit last March saw a goal less draw in what was our last Saturday game in front of fans.

Previewer: Andrew Mullen.