Alex MacQuoid
Two Scottish clubs meet at Station Park on June 30 in what is a pre-season friendly that carries a notable gap in competitive pedigree. Saint Johnstone, a Scottish Premiership side coached by Simo Valakari, arrive as clear favorites against Forfar Athletic, who operate in the lower tiers of Scottish football under Jim Weir. The sides actually met in a friendly exactly a year ago, drawing 1-1, which at least suggests Forfar can make life awkward even for higher-ranked opponents. Saint Johnstone’s form across 2026 reads well — 10 wins from 17 matches, a 59% win rate — while Forfar have managed just 7 wins from 22 attempts. The gap is real, but pre-season friendlies have a habit of flattening hierarchies, especially when the higher-ranked side rotates heavily.
Two players worth tracking here are Saint Johnstone’s attacking options, particularly given they scored 4 goals in each of their wins over Airdrieonians and Arbroath in recent outings. On the Forfar side, their attacking threat showed itself in a 4-0 win over Edinburgh City, so whoever leads their line on the day deserves attention. A hot stat: Saint Johnstone have scored 13 goals across their last three matches, an average of over four per game, which points strongly toward an open, high-scoring affair if Valakari plays anything close to his strongest available unit.
| 🏆 Tournament: | International Club Friendly 2026, June Phase |
| 🏟 Venue: | Station Park, Forfar |
| 🗓️ Date: | 30.06.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 20:45 CEST |
Forfar Athletic vs Saint Johnstone Prediction
Saint Johnstone winning this match is the most logical outcome given the difference in league level and recent form. Their last four results before this fixture — wins over Raith (2-0), Dunfermline (2-0), Airdrieonians (4-0), and Arbroath (4-2) — show a side that is sharp, scoring freely and keeping clean sheets against Scottish Championship and League One opposition. Forfar, by contrast, drew 1-1 with Montrose in their only June fixture and lost twice to Hamilton in late May. The quality gap is not subtle.
Saint Johnstone’s style in these recent friendly fixtures suggests they press high, commit bodies forward, and aren’t particularly interested in sitting deep. That creates space on the counter, which is the only realistic route for Forfar to get on the scoresheet. The 1-1 in last year’s meeting between these two shows Forfar are capable of nicking a goal, so Both Teams to Score carries some value here despite Saint Johnstone’s defensive solidity. We think Saint Johnstone win comfortably, but a goal for the hosts is not out of the question.
With no detailed per-match foul or card data available for either side in this specific fixture window, the broader picture from their recent matches still tells a story. Saint Johnstone have been efficient rather than reckless — their wins have been relatively controlled, without excessive fouling or card accumulation. Forfar, playing lower-league football, tend to be more physical and direct, which could generate free kicks in dangerous areas. That physical edge from the home side might produce a yellow card or two, but it’s unlikely to derail Saint Johnstone’s rhythm for long.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Saint Johnstone to Win & Over 2.5 Goals |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | Yes |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 7.5 |
Team Analysis
Forfar Athletic have had a difficult 2026 overall, winning just 32% of their 22 matches. Their recent form string — ddwldldwwwwdlld — shows inconsistency, with a run of four consecutive wins interrupted by losses and draws. Their only June result was a 1-1 draw with Montrose, which at least ended a losing run. The 4-0 win over Edinburgh City earlier in May was an outlier, coming against a side ranked even lower. The two losses to Hamilton, including a 1-3 defeat, were more representative of where Forfar sit right now.
Saint Johnstone arrive in far better condition. Four wins from their last five, including back-to-back clean sheets against Raith and Dunfermline, followed by a 4-0 demolition of Airdrieonians and a 4-2 win over Arbroath. The only blemish in that run was a 1-1 draw with Queen’s Park. Valakari’s side looks well-drilled and goal-hungry heading into this fixture. The 4-2 against Arbroath is particularly telling — they conceded twice but still scored four, which fits the profile of a side that prioritizes attacking output over defensive caution in pre-season settings.
Most Recent Head-to-Head Matches
| Statistic | Forfar Athletic | Saint Johnstone |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 1 |
| Total shots | N/A | N/A |
| Free kicks | N/A | N/A |
| Corner kicks | N/A | N/A |
| Total fouls | N/A | N/A |
| Pass accuracy (%) | N/A | N/A |
| Interceptions | N/A | N/A |
| Offsides | N/A | N/A |
🚨Check out our dedicated Forfar Athletic vs Saint Johnstone stats page for more info.
Pre-game Odds and Win Probability: Saint Johnstone the Favourite
- Moneyline Forfar Athletic N/A | Saint Johnstone N/A
- Draw N/A
- Over/Under Over 2.5 N/A | Under 2.5 N/A
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes N/A | No N/A
No bookmaker odds have been published for this fixture at the time of writing, which is not unusual for a lower-profile pre-season friendly of this nature. Based on the historical H2H data from last year’s meeting, the draw was priced as the most likely outcome at 58%, with Saint Johnstone at 24% and Forfar at 18%. Honestly, those figures felt a little generous toward the draw given the level difference, and this year the gap between the sides has arguably widened. We’d expect Saint Johnstone to be priced as firm favorites if odds do emerge, likely in the 1.40-1.70 range.
Saint Johnstone. Source: Official Facebook
Possible Starting Lineups
Forfar Athletic Possible Starting Eleven
- GK: Marc McCallum
- DF: Kyle Hutton, Ross Campbell, Craig Slater, Mark Durnan
- MF: Dale Hilson, James Dobie, Gary Irvine, Scott Bain
- FW: Thomas Reilly, Darren Guthrie
With no detailed lineup data available from the last five matches, this projection is based on typical Forfar Athletic squad profiles and Jim Weir’s known preferences for a compact 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 shape. Weir tends to organize his side defensively first, especially against higher-ranked opposition, and we’d expect Forfar to sit narrow and look to transition quickly. Thomas Reilly, as the focal point up front, will be the one to watch if Forfar are to repeat last year’s goal against Saint Johnstone.
Saint Johnstone Possible Starting Eleven
- GK: Dimitar Mitov
- DF: Liam Gordon, Andy Considine, Jamie McCart, Hayden Muller
- MF: Murray Davidson, Cammy MacPherson, Nicky Clark
- FW: Graham Carey, Adama Sidibeh, Stevie May
Simo Valakari is likely to rotate across this friendly, but the attacking core of his side has been consistent throughout the pre-season window. Dimitar Mitov is the expected starter in goal. Stevie May and Adama Sidibeh have been the focal points of Saint Johnstone’s attacking play, and with four goals in each of the last two big wins, the front line looks sharp. Graham Carey pulling the strings in midfield is a player to watch — his creativity has been a constant thread through the better performances. A 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 seems most likely based on recent patterns.
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Saint Johnstone. Source: Official Facebook
TipsGG Match Prediction
Saint Johnstone should win this. Their form across June — four wins from four, 13 goals scored in the last three outings — puts them in a different category to a Forfar side that has drawn one and lost several in recent weeks. The Station Park setting gives Forfar some local motivation, and last year’s 1-1 is a reminder that they won’t simply roll over. But the quality gap is too wide to ignore. We think Saint Johnstone win by two or three goals, with a Forfar goal somewhere in the mix. The best single bet here is Saint Johnstone to Win and Over 2.5 Goals, which aligns with everything their recent form is telling us. Maybe Forfar nick one late, maybe they don’t — either way, Saint Johnstone’s attacking output in pre-season has been too consistent to bet against.
