Friday 6th November 2020
DUMBARTON are on their travels for the first of three consecutive Saturdays in November tomorrow, with Methil the destination to play East Fife.
After six points out of six in the past week, confidence is high among the squad ahead of what will be a demanding game at New Bayview.
The Fifers won two and drew the other of the sides’ three meetings last season. Should Sons break that run, it will be their first win over East Fife since April 2019 – a victory which completed a 100 per cent record against the Fifers that season.
It’s a challenge that manager Jim Duffy is looking forward to, with the games currently coming thick and fast for his players.
He said: “It’s nice to be heading into the game off the back of two consecutive wins, and with three clean sheets out of three posted in the league to date.
“However, those games are in the past now and we are in the middle of a tough spell, with midweek and Saturday games last week and this coming week.
“But that can build momentum if you are winning, and we are doing that at the moment. We know that if we apply ourselves as we usually do tomorrow, then we’ll give ourselves a chance.
“We will have to be on our guard though, as we know from last season how dangerous a side East Fife are. We should not expect an easy game, and anything we take we will have to work hard to earn.”
Having been absent for the last week, Denny Johnstone and Donald Morrison (pictured) have a chance of being in the squad for tomorrow.
Despite his fitness improving, PJ Crossan is set to miss out again tomorrow, while Stefan McCluskey and Chris Smith won’t be involved.
Action from the sides’ last meeting, in February. Copyright Fullarton Photos 2020.
East Fife’s last five games
Saturday, October 31, 2020 – Falkirk 2 East Fife 0
Saturday, October 24, 2020 – East Fife 2 Montrose 2
Saturday, October 17, 2020 – Cove Rangers 3 East Fife 1
Saturday, October 10, 2020 – Raith Rovers 2 East Fife 1
Tuesday, October 6, 2020 – East Fife 2 Cowdenbeath 0
The last 10 meetings of the clubs
Saturday, February 1, 2020 – East Fife 4 Dumbarton 2
Saturday, November 9, 2019 – Dumbarton 2 East Fife 4
Saturday, September 21, 2019 – East Fife 2 Dumbarton 2
Saturday, April 20, 2019 – Dumbarton 3 East Fife 0
Saturday, February 23, 2019 – East Fife 3 Dumbarton 4
Saturday, October 27, 2018 – Dumbarton 4 East Fife 0
Saturday, August 4, 2018 – East Fife 0 Dumbarton 2
Tuesday, July 19, 2016 – Dumbarton 0 East Fife 2
Saturday, August 1, 2015 – East Fife 1 Dumbarton 1 (East Fife won on penalties)
Saturday, March 17, 2012 – Dumbarton 0 East Fife 4
East Fife’s last victory in a league game was on Saturday, February 29, a 1-0 success away to Forfar Athletic.
They last won a home league fixture the previous Saturday, when they beat Stranraer 4-2.
Tomorrow’s match is of course behind closed doors and streaming arrangements are as per our previous story. The game is not available via our own Pixellot platform.
If you are not able to get to a monitor, live Twitter coverage is available through our feed @dumbartonfc.
Steven Reid is the referee for tomorrow’s game, with assistance from Jonathan Bell and Willie Ferguson.
East Fife have confirmed that no matchday programme is being produced for the game.
Andy Galloway