Saturday 27th August 2022
STEVIE FARRELL didn’t have to let his Dumbarton side know about the below par first half performance at half time in today’s game against Elgin City.
He simply let them give each other their own team talk.
And in the end, he thought today’s history-making 2-1 victory was one that Sons merited over the piece.
It was by no means comfortable, but the manager, speaking from experience, warned that victories may be gained in such circumstances again.
The manager said: “The first half was nowhere near good enough, but I did not have to say anything because the players were shouting at each other about how bad it was – way below the standards we have set for each other.
“I stood there for two or three minutes and let them talk things through. In the first half we were doing things that we haven’t done in the first few games and they did not come off.
“We wanted to ask them questions in their box, and from a corner and a long throw-in we have had two penalties. In the end I thought we thoroughly deserved it. Elgin were the better team in the first half but we merited in the end.
“I knew when I signed Ally that I was getting a great finisher. The two penalties were great from him. Football works in cycles and he can now go home with his family and have a good night.
“If we are going to be successful this year, we are going to have to take all sorts of victories. In the last few weeks we have been digging out results, but today we had to dig out a different kind of win, like the Albion Rovers game earlier in the season. We showed great resilience.”
There was one downside to today’s victory, with Joe McKee set for a spell on the sidelines after hobbling off in the first half.
While Sons’ victory made them the first team at the club ever to start a league season with five wins, Stevie was adamant that the achievement was one for his squad.
He added: “Joe has a hamstring injury, so the physio will assess that, but we suspect we will be without him for two to three weeks, and that is a blow.
“But David Wilson came on and did really well. The players all know and understand the shape.
“Statistics like being the first team to start with five wins are for the players. For me it is all about the next game.”
Dumbarton Football Club