Tuesday 18th August 2015
SONS have been preparing to progress to the quarter-finals of the Petrofac Training Cup, with a second round tie against Queen’s Park at Hampden the hurdle that needs to be overcome.
Having negotiated a 3-2 win against Morton in the previous round, manager Stevie Aitken wants to go as far as possible in the tournament, though the major focus is still on the Championship after a blistering start there.
Aitken said ahead of the Queens game: “We would have preferred a home tie, but going to Hampden, our national stadium, is a decent alternative.
“Queen’s will be tough opponents and will be up for the game.
“We’ve done our homework and know what to expect, but it’s a cup tie, so there will be an edge.”.
The Petrofac Training Cup is not a competition that has been kind to the Sons.
Now in its 25th year, Dumbarton playing in round two of this competition is a rare event. Queen’s Park defeated Edinburgh City in the last round, progressing by winning 3-1 on penalties following a 0-0 stalemate in 90 mins plus extra time.
We have to go back to 2007 for the last encounter between the teams.
The Spiders triumphed with a 2-1 win in April of that year. Robert Dunn and David Weatherston scored for Queens with Tommy Coyne netting a last minute consolation goal for Dumbarton.
The Sons team was: Grindlay, Craig, Bagan, Dillon, Geggan Borris, McNaught, McQuilken, Boyle, Tiernan, Canning.
In team news, Jamie Lindsay (pictured) missed Saturday’s win at St Mirren Park with a hernia problem and it looks like he will be out for 4/6 weeks.
Manager Aitken also has concerns about one or two injuries following the win at St Mirren, and will shuffle the squad for the Queens Park match.
He said : “We have three games in seven days, so we will be using our full complement of players.
“Some guys will be rested and others will come in.”
Alan Findlay & Simon Barrow