Ross County vs Forfar Athletic - Challenge Cup

The history between Ross County and Forfar Athletic lends this Challenge Cup fixture an extra layer of spice, and when the two walk out at Global Energy Stadium on October 13, 2026, recent encounters will be on everyone's mind. Man United's next eight games as Michael Carrick faces gruelling fixture run to save job.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the Challenge Cup contest at Global Energy Stadium offers a chance to lay down a marker. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. Forfar Athletic's away form is hard to read, but they will arrive with the belief that they can trouble their hosts. Inside Monaco’s academy with Dier as they top the table in France.

The tactical battle could prove decisive. Ross County may lean on their home advantage to dictate the tempo, but Forfar Athletic have shown they can be dangerous when allowed to play on their own terms. It isn't clear yet that this will definitely be a winger, with Maresca and sporting director Hugo Viana flexible over their attack.

When Taylor Hogarth is on the pitch — 0 goals to his name this term — moments of magic are never far away, and the Challenge Cup's top scorer will be central to how this one unfolds. How each side deals with the other's danger men — and who takes their chances when they come — will be central to the outcome. The Everton striker was doing extra work with his individual coach when it all became too much.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. Neither side holds a clear edge, and a 1-1 draw would be a fitting reflection of the balance between them. More than just three points is on the line at Global Energy Stadium — this is a fixture that could shape the narrative of both clubs' seasons. Joe Gomez is expected to miss the start of Liverpool's Premier League campaign through injury - but it is not likely to impact the Reds' transfer plans.