- Forfar Athletic have won none of their last 3 away matches against Stenhousemuir, suggesting the hosts can use the home advantage to their advantage in this one.
- Stenhousemuir have won 3 of their last 5 matches (D1, L1).
Bartley bids to reset Stenhousemuir’s compass
Marvin Bartley took over Stenhousemuir on the 9th June 2026 and this group stage game in the 2026 League Cup is one of his first tests in the job as he bids to reshape the club for a better future.
The hosts are the clear favourites at 31/100, although Forfar Athletic's odds aren't too shabby at 25/4, with the draw priced at 81/20. However, Forfar have not won any of their last 3 away games against Stenhousemuir and that is reason enough for us to side with the favourites here.
Stenhousemuir's last two results were a 3-1 away victory over Alloa Athletic and a 0-1 home defeat to the same opponent in the Championship Relegation/Promotion Playoffs 2026, a sequence which reads as a W and a L in terms of form.
Forfar Athletic's last two games saw them lose 2-1 as the away side against Hamilton Academical FC in the League One Relegation/Promotion Playoffs 2026 and then get battered 4-0 at home in a friendly against top-flight St. Johnstone.
Stenhousemuir will come into this one looking to set up shop and be organised as they try to counterattack against their opponents. Forfar play a direct game in which they attempt to play on the front foot, linking up wide and using short pressing to try and nick the ball back in areas of the field where they can cause problems.
Forfar will put up a fight
James Weir has been in the dugout for Forfar since November 2024, so they have more continuity at the top for this clash than Stenhousemuir, whose new gaffer is yet to get his feet under the table.
While this is a very winnable game for Stenhousemuir, the head to head suggests that Forfar can make this a closer encounter than the odds imply and we are going for Stenhousemuir to win and both teams to score in the match, which is currently a live price considering how much the market is leaning towards goals.
Over 2.5 goals is 7/20 and both teams to score Yes is 59/100. Stenhousemuir have conceded 1.40 goals per-game at home in all competitions and Forfar have scored 1.00 per-game and conceded 1.40 on the road in the same conditions, so we have faith that both keepers will be tested during the contest.
Stenhousemuir have won five, drawn three and lost two of their last ten matches in all competitions, which is a slightly better run than Forfar's ten matches through the same period (W4, D2, L4). Forfar Athletic's away record in all competitions over the last five matches is W1, D2 and L2.
