Friday 9th August 2019
DUMBARTON’S first away league outing of the season takes place tomorrow with a trip to face newly-relegated Falkirk.
The Falkirk Stadium was a regular haunt during the club’s time in the Championship, with the Bairns being the only team Sons faced in all six seasons in the division.
Now it is a League One encounter, following Falkirk’s relegation from the Championship at the end of last season.
Manager Jim Duffy is aware of the challenge Sons face tomorrow, but stressed the importance of remaining positive despite the defeat to Raith Rovers which opened the league campaign last week.
He said: “Falkirk are many people’s favourites for promotion and will be out to show why that is the case tomorrow in their first home game.
“We have to find a way to stop them and if we apply ourselves and perform as we know we can there is no reason why we can’t do that.
“The recent run of results in all competitions has been a difficult spell to go through but we will stick to the task and hopefully we can get a result tomorrow.”
Matthew Shiels has been absent from the squad for the last couple of games and checks will be made on his fitness before the game. Otherwise, it is a full squad available.
Falkirk are also still awaiting their first league goal of the season, after drawing 0-0 away to League Two champions Peterhead last week.
Sons fans will be located in Section H of the Main Stand tomorrow, entering via turnstile seven. Admission is £18 for adults, £11 for concessions, £6 for under-18s and free for under-12s with a paying adult (maximum of four).
Referee Graham Beaton is in charge of tomorrow’s game, with assistance from Gary Hilland and Scott Robert Anderson.
This will be Sons’ first visit to the Falkirk Stadium since 24 February 2018, when they drew 0-0. They are unbeaten in their last three visits to the stadium.
The Sonstrust bus leaves Church Street at 1.15pm tomorrow and seats are still available. Contact Tommy Hughes at memsecy@sonstrust.net to reserve.
Andy Galloway