Friday 29th October 2021
HAMPERED by suspensions and injuries after last week’s drama, Dumbarton have another road trip tomorrow to face East Fife.
It’s been a week of hard work at training, bidding to end the recent run of defeats and return to the winning form of earlier in the season.
But it is also about bouncing back from the major blow of losing a late goal at Airdrie last week, having equalised with eight players.
Manager Stevie Farrell is looking for the positive aspects of last week’s display to continue into tomorrow, although there will have to be changes to the team.
The gaffer said: “For obvious reasons, our options are limited tomorrow, but we feel we have enough about us to go to Methil and get a result.
“Perhaps the biggest positive of last Saturday was the determination the players showed to go and equalise with eight men, although we of course lost the game in the end.
“They’ve been desperate for the East Fife game to come around, as they want to continue that determination and put a result on the board.
“East Fife were beaten themselves last week and we fully expect them to look to respond. It is up to us to ensure our response is the better one and we bounce back.”
There will have to be at least four changes to the starting line-up that faced Airdrie. The dismissed trio of Ross MacLean, Gregor Buchanan and Andy Geggan are suspended.
All three will serve a one-game suspension and will be eligible to return at home to Clyde next week.
Ryan McGeever’s injury sustained at Airdrie also rules him out of contention, while Kristoffer Syvertsen continues to miss out. David Hopkirk is also taking a break from football.
On a more positive note, Evan Maley and Calum Erskine are available again.
If you are making the trip to Methil, you must purchase a ticket in advance of the game. This can be done online, with supporters able to present tickets either electronically or by printing at home.
The supporters’ bus will leave Dumbarton Town Centre at 11.45am, with seats remaining available. Please see our previous story for details.
If you can’t get to New Bayview, then live streaming is available. We’ll have in-play Twitter commentary on our feed @DumbartonFC and a report and reaction will be online as soon as possible after the final whistle.
Tomorrow’s game will be preceded by a minute’s applause in honour of former East Fife director Ken Henderson, who passed away last week, and also in honour of Walter Smith.
Lloyd Wilson is the referee for tomorrow’s game, and will have assistance from Ralph Gordon and Barry Reid.
Andy Galloway