Friday 1st April 2016
IT’S time to knuckle down.
Tomorrow, against Morton, Dumbarton face one of the biggest matches of their four-year stay in Scotland’s second tier.
Sons only need a draw to ensure that, for the fourth season running, they will finish as Scotland’s best part-time side.
But just one point is not the afternoon’s target. It may not be enough to stay out of the Championship’s bottom two places.
A victory will ensure that, for at least another three days, Dumbarton are in a position where they hope to finish the season.
It’s an afternoon where a positive performance by the players, and a contribution by the fans, can make all the difference.
As already outlined in the match preview, Sons gaffer Stevie Aitken and his squad are looking forward to the game, having been boosted by striker Christian Nade’s award as Championship player of the month.
Calling on the fans to help make a difference off the pitch, Sons Supporters Trust chairman Brian Payne said: “Dumbarton fans have proven time and time again what a difference they can make.
“Winning promotion in 2012, and staying up the following year, saw everybody dig in to achieve the goal we wanted. Now we need to do it again, on and off the pitch.
“We were all very disappointed by what happened in our last game, but it has to be put behind us and we’re sure Stevie and the players will have spent the past fortnight doing that on their part.
“In Christian Nade we have a worthy divisional player of the month, demonstrated by his goal against Hibernian, his hat-trick against Alloa and his performance against Falkirk.
“We’ve only lost once at home since October and have four home fixtures left, all against teams who are, to all intents and purposes, safe in their current areas of the division for the rest of the campaign.
“There is everything for us to play for, and tomorrow is the start of a big spell. If we all muck in, this goal can be achieved, no doubt about it.”
Meanwhile, in tomorrow’s edition of Sons View, Andy Galloway writes: “Are Dumbarton facing their biggest game since joining the second tier in 2012?
“In this observer’s opinion, only Cowdenbeath away (April 2013) and Queen of the South at home (April 2014) can match it. And the second one’s a maybe.
“Being in the second tier for four seasons has been a privilege for Dumbarton.
“We want to spend the evening of Saturday, April 30 [at the Sons Supporters Trust awards night] celebrating it extending into a fifth? Got to win these games.”
By close of play tomorrow, not only could the best part-time team title be secured, but the five-point cushion could be restored.
Be there and #suuportoursons
Alan Findlay