Looks for Queen’s Park to keep their winning start to the season going at home against an Arbroath side that appears to be facing a long relegation battle in the Championship.

Queen’s made a strong start to the league season last weekend as they went to Inverness and picked up a very creditable 2-1 win. That came after a mixed League Cup campaign that was compromised by an early loss against East Fife on penalties before being followed up by a narrow loss at Premiership Motherwell.

Queen’s Park have improved markedly since then, with last weekend’s win in the Highlands evidence of that. Indeed, with the likes of Dom Thomas, who signed a contract extension on Sunday, and Ruari Paton leading their line, they are a dangerous attacking prospect. The defence, meanwhile, is boosted by the arrival of Ben McPherson from Celtic on loan this week.

Arbroath, meanwhile, has endured a rocky start to the season that continued last weekend as they were defeated 4-0 at home by Dundee United. Prior to that, the Red Litchies toiled in the League Cup, losing heavily away from home against St Mirren and Forfar.

Cove Rangers turned full time in the summer but that has brought a succession of challenges and it would be a major surprise if they were to beat League One title favourites Falkirk at home on Saturday.

The Aberdeen side have signed 19 players this summer, leaving just a handful of familiar faces, and many of the additions they have made do not appear to be of the required standard. Players have been recruited from a series of disparate clubs and the early results have been mixed.

Last weekend, Cove kicked off their league season with a 1-0 loss at Hamilton, who they had previously drawn with in the League Cup. Their only victories have come against a weak League Two side in the form of Clyde and Highland League outfit Brechin.

After his red card last weekend, the experienced Paul McGowan will miss out for the hosts. He is one of their best players on paper.

Falkirk should be strong enough to take advantage. They were easy 3-0 winners over Annan at home last weekend, overcoming a test of the visiting side sitting in and defending. Cove will not do the same and that should play into the Bairns’ hands, particularly as the hosts have conceded 12 goals in five competitive matches this season.

This is an early opportunity for Falkirk to assert their dominance in the league, particularly as their match next weekend against Stirling Albion has been rescheduled due to their opponents’ League Cup participation. It is one they are more than capable of taking.

Forfar have made a strong start to the season and will hope for that form to continue on Saturday when they host an Elgin side yet to record a win of note this term.

The hosts have begun the campaign in excellent form. Three League Cup wins guided them to the verge of the last 16, including a home success over Cowdenbeath and a famous derby win over Championship rivals Arbroath. Last weekend, they started League Two with a scoreless draw against a Stenhousemuir side that will be in the running for at least the play-offs come the end of the season.

Elgin are not an outfit currently close to that standard. The Black and Whites have lost all five of their major games this season, with a Challenge Cup success over St Johnstone B as their sole spot of
hope. It is a scant one. Last weekend, they suffered a 1-0 loss against a Stranraer side expected to be no better than average.

Some hope can be reserved by the visiting side because of their recent record against Forfar. They have won their last two matches against the Loons and have suffered only two defeats in their last ten.

Ray McKinnon has the home side in good order, though, with regular defender Roberto Nditi coming back into the team following a ban. Forfar should also have players coming back from injury that will strengthen their bench, while Josh Skelly, who netted twice in the League Cup, should be fit.