Friday 27th July 2018
DUMBARTON complete their Betfred Cup group stage tomorrow with a visit to St Mirren.
The opportunity is still there to progress to the last 16 of the competition – but Sons will need to dig out a result and hope things go their way elsewhere.
Gaffer Stevie Aitken has doubts over the availability of Cammy Ballantyne and Ryan Thomson, but otherwise has a full squad available.
The manager said: “Tomorrow is our last opportunity to fine tune things before the league campaign starts, but we also still have a chance to qualify and it’s one we’ll be trying to take.
“We know only a win in 90 minutes will keep us in with a chance of reaching the last 16, so we’ll have to be on top of our game to do that.
“Whatever happens tomorrow, the group stage has been a positive for us and we’ve seen some very good things as our new look squad comes together.”
St Mirren have won all three of their group stage ties on penalties.
Only a win in 90 minutes will do if Dumbarton are to have any chance of reaching the knockout stage. They will win the group if they do that and Queen’s Park beat Kilmarnock in 90 minutes at Rugby Park.
A win on penalties looks like it might be enough, but it won’t. St Mirren and Dumbarton would each be on seven points but the Buddies have a superior goal difference.
And as either Kilmarnock or Queen’s Park will have a better points tally and/or goal difference than Sons as well, a third-placed finish is as good as could be hoped for.
Euan Anderson will referee tomorrow’s game, with assistance from Ralph Gordon and Ivan Stankovic.
There is no Sonstrust bus to Paisley.
Andy Galloway