League Preview: League 1 so much more than just a two-horse race

The 2020/21 Ladbrokes League 1 season kicks off this weekend with Falkirk again looking to secure promotion back to the Championship over its 27 matchdays.
Former Bairns boss Paul Hartley will return to the Falkirk Stadium for the first time since his sacking with League 1 new boys Cove RangersFormer Bairns boss Paul Hartley will return to the Falkirk Stadium for the first time since his sacking with League 1 new boys Cove Rangers
Former Bairns boss Paul Hartley will return to the Falkirk Stadium for the first time since his sacking with League 1 new boys Cove Rangers

Their main opposition? Bookmakers would have you believe that is Ian McCall’s Partick Thistle, who are in fact the pre-season odds-on favourites.

Much like last season, it’s the two full-time teams that are expected to battle it out for the title, with the other potential contenders doomed to take part in the nerve-shredding play-offs.

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However, most of the other eight sides in the division are looking as strong, and in many cases stronger, than they did last season, and it would come as a major surprise if at least one did not have their say on the outcome of the title.

League 2 champions Cove Rangers come into the division and, make no mistake, will be targeting back-to-back promotions.

The Aberdeen side, one of three clubs in the division managed by a former Falkirk gaffer in Paul Hartley, have a squad packed full of talent and were cantering towards the League 2 title last season before it was brought to a premature end.

Scottish Cup and FA Cup winner Fraser Fyvie is the standout name but last season it was ex-Aberdeen and Alloa striker Mitch Megginson who made his name stand out with goal after goal.

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They may not have the luxury of being a full-time club like Falkirk and Partick, but to rule out a title challenge from the seven-time Highland League champions would be folly.

Over at Airdrie, the Diamonds have fairly made waves in the transfer market this summer.

The signing of winger Thomas Robert, son of Former France international Laurent and supposed target of top-flight clubs in both Scotland and England if you believe the rumours, got the Scottish football world talking. Then there’s young Swiss midfielder Griffin Sabatini, on-loan from Dnipro-1 in the Ukranian top flight, another unknown quantity with an impressive pedigree.

The Diamonds were there or there about in the top four last season and with these exciting young prospects added to a strong base at their squad, they will be looking to add that bit more consistency which would likely see them able to keep pace at the summit of the table.

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There won’t be the challenge of Raith Rovers coming from the Kingdom of Fife this season, but who’s to say East Fife won't have their say?

Darren Young’s side have been in amongst the play-off contenders for a few seasons now, and they’re a creative side who may have made the transfer coup of the summer by landing Danny Swanson.

They might have lost Anton Dowds to Falkirk but the Bayview club brought in Jack Hamilton on loan from Livingston to replace him and actually look stronger, which will worry the two title favourites.

Talking about sides who have been up there the past few seasons we come to Montrose.

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The Angus side have kept almost their entire squad intact from last season, meaning Stewart Petrie hasn’t really had to make too many moves in the transfer market.

It’s a side that lacks the star power of a Cove or the intrigue of an Airdrie but it’s also a team of players with buckets of experience at this level who know how to win.

It was a Jekyll and Hyde start to last season for them – seven matches without a win followed by six victories on the bounce.

The Gable Endies might not have had the stamina over a full season to keep up with the title-chasers but a shortened 21-game season could play right into their hands.

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Clyde came into last season as the dark horses of the division after promotion via the play-offs but failed to make their mark.

That being said, the experience of that debut season, along with the guile of manager Danny Lennon and footballing brilliance of captain David Goodwillie, makes them a side who simply cannot being taken lightly.

It’s been a tough summer at Dumbarton, meanwhile. Former Bairns’ gaffer Jim Duff has had a few health problems but he’s back in the dugout and, with 32 years of managerial experience behind him and more than a few talented players in his squad, the Sons may just be able to exceed the expectation that this will be a season of fighting relegation.

At Forfar, Stuart Malcolm has had a rebuilding job on his hands, having to all but build a squad up from scratch, a tough task at any time but more so in this year of a global pandemic.

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It makes it hard to say what to expect from the Angus side but Malcolm has struck a good balance of youth and experience and it will be intriguing to see just what this new-look Loons are capable of.

Further intrigue lies north at Peterhead, where Jim McInally has also had a rebuilding job on his hands.

Another gaffer with years of experience behind him, McInally has generally had a settled core to his squad to rely on over the past few years, but this summer it has seen some major losses.

However, midfield duo Si Ferry and Scott Brown remain and Isaac Layne,who impressed at Dumbarton last season, is a handy player to have leading your line at this level.

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Again, not much other than fighting relegation was expect of them until they toppled Dundee United 1-0 at Tannadice two Saturdays ago in the Betfred Cup, reminding us that the Blue Toon are still alive and kicking and won’t be dismissed so easily.

What a season it is shaping up to be and I, for one, cannot wait for it to get under way this Saturday.

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