Friday 27th September 2019
DUMBARTON are back at home tomorrow for what has become a rather rare fixture against newly-promoted Clyde.
Having taken a point at unbeaten leaders East Fife last week, and gone close to making it three points, Sons are glad to be home.
It is the first of two consecutive Saturdays at home, with Forfar Athletic in town next Saturday to complete the first quarter of the season.
Tomorrow Clyde will miss talismanic striker David Goodwillie, who has 13 goals last season after his sending off at Peterhead last week. An appeal to the SFA was rejected on Wednesday.
But the manager is still under no illusions as to how tough the match will be, although he is confident that Sons will rise to the test.
Jim said: “With the stadium being our home environment it is important we use that to our advantage, and I am looking for a good return from this double header.
“Clyde have started the season well and will make it tough for us, but we have performed well ourselves recently and are confident ahead of tomorrow.
“It doesn’t matter who plays upfront for Clyde – they will be dangerous opposition and we will have to be at our best to get anything from the game.
“If we can continue the positive traits we have shown of late, though, we have a good chance.”
The gaffer reports that Kyle Hutton, who played his 100th game for the club at East Fife last week, is 50/50 for tomorrow.
The midfielder took a knock to his foot at Methil, but will be given every chance to make it 101 games for Sons against Clyde.
If he does play, he will be presented with a bottle of champagne after the match to mark his century. If he does not make it, the presentation will take place in Bar 72 before kick-off.
Defender Jordan McMillan remains sidelined by a calf injury, but Joe McKee is available despite being forced off with a knock at East Fife.
Referee Steven Reid is in charge of proceedings tomorrow, with assistance coming from Stuart Hodge and Steven Traynor.
Tomorrow’s game will be Clyde’s first visit to what is now the C&G Systems Stadium for nine years, and only their third match there ever.
Season 2009/10 is the only season in the last 23 years when the clubs have been in the same division. In that term, the two encounters in Dumbarton ended in 3-3 draws while Sons’ trips to Broadwood ended in a 2-0 win and a 4-2 defeat.
The clubs’ only meeting since was a sectional Betfred Cup tie at Broadwood in July 2017, which Clyde won 2-1.
Copies of Sons View, the club’s award-winning matchday programme, will be on sale tomorrow priced £2.50.
All supporters should enter via the east turnstiles – the ones nearest Castle Road – and all will have access to Bar 72 before the game.
As per our previous story, bottles of ‘The Sons Pale Ale’, made by our sponsors the Lennox Brewery, will be available.
For those who can’t get to the stadium tomorrow, in-play Twitter commentary is available @dumbartonfc and our report will be online at www.dumbartonfootballclub.com ASAP after the final whistle.
Andy Galloway