Sunday 9th January 2022
MANAGER Stevie Farrell insists that there is plenty that Dumbarton can do to get away from their current league position.
And the gaffer has called for positivity ahead of this weekend’s vital home game against East Fife.
After a tough afternoon at Falkirk which saw Sons heftily beaten, Stevie repeated his assertion from earlier in the season that he accepts responsibility for the team’s poor results of late.
He is anxious for mistakes to be cut out, and chances to be taken, when Dumbarton face the Fifers this Saturday and in subsequent fixtures.
The gaffer said: “We are where we are and there is nothing we can do about what has already happened.
“But there is plenty we can do to ensure we get away from our current position and are not there again this season.
“Recent results, and the manner in which they have happened, have been as unacceptable to us as they are to the supporters and collectively, we will continue to work hard to improve them.
“We have been hindered by mistakes costing goals at one end, and failing to score goals when we should at the other. It is hard enough for us when just one of those is happening.
“Ultimately, though, I am the manager of this team and as before, I have to accept responsibility for what has happened on the pitch.
“The margins have been fine many times during the last few months, when things that could have gone our way have instead gone against us and decided games.
“However, I, as manager, cannot and will not hide from the responsibility that I have to take, either for what has happened or to get us out of the current situation.
“The workload is mine and I am absolutely determined to ensure we move into a more comfortable league position as soon as possible.
“We are also hopeful of strengthening our squad. The Premiership sides’ winter shutdown has meant that they have not been as readily available to talk to regarding players.
“Now that they are getting back to business, you should expect to see more business being done, at our club and others, over the coming weeks.”
A victory on Saturday would move Sons eight points clear of the bottom-placed East Fife and potentially level on points with eighth-placed Alloa Athletic.
The previous home clash with the Fifers was won 5-0 by Dumbarton in September, and despite the time that has elapsed since that day, Stevie wants that to spur his team on.
He added: “Although a lot has happened since that previous game, it is one that we know we can win, and one where a win could go a long way.
“I would ask that everybody looks ahead positively to the game, keeps the heads up, and have faith that we can arrest this run, starting on Saturday.
“We have shown, over an extended period, that we are capable in this division. There is every reason to look to do it again.”