Dumbarton return to the Rock tomorrow as they look to keep in touch with the teams at the top when Elgin City visit G82 [kick-off 3.00pm].
Sons will be hoping to make it four victories in a row in all competitions whilst Elgin City look to follow up last weeks win over Bonnyrigg Rose with another three points.
If the Borough Briggs side are to do that, however, they will need to do so without Barry Smith after he stepped down as manager during the week.
The former DFC assistant left the club due to work commitments after just six league matches in charge and taking Elgin off the foot of the table.
For Dumbarton, boss Stevie Farrell has urged his side to show both sides of the game, as they have done in recent weeks, and is all too familiar with the threat that Elgin can pose.
He told the clubs website: “We won 4-0 against Bonnyrigg by scoring a lot of goals and playing free flowing football and for us then to go and grind out a result at a tough venue last weekend, I’m probably happier with the three points against East Fife.
“We had the best part of 90 minutes to defend a lead after going up early so it was a good test for us and we stood up to it well.
“If we can combine the football we played against Bonnyrigg with the defensive grit we showed against East Fife, then we will give ourselves an excellent chance of securing three points.
“We are all too familiar with what Elgin can do to you if you’re not clinical in front of goal and not switched on defensively so every member of the squad being at their best is vital.”
Despite both sides competing at different ends of the table in the last year, it’s Elgin who come out on top in the head-to-head of recent fixtures.
The Moray side have won the last three outings between the teams having ran out 2-0 winners at Borough Briggs earlier this season and picking up all three points in the final two fixtures of the 2022/23 campaign – a 1-0 victory in Elgin that secured their League Two status on the penultimate weekend of the season, and a 2-1 win at the Rock in February.
If Sons are to turn that around, they will have to do so without the injured Callum Wilson, Greig Young and Declan Byrne.
Mark Durnan returned to training this week with the Sons management team monitoring his reaction from those sessions to determine whether he is fit or not to make the squad.
Matty Shiels and Ryan Blair will also undergo fitness tests prior to kick-off tomorrow afternoon.
Tickets are available to buy now with this method advised by the club to avoid queuing for yourself and others ahead of kick-off. Tickets are available for £17 for adults, £11 for concessions and £5 for under-16’s at the following link: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/dumbartonfootballclub/975777?. Season tickets are valid for this game.
There is also still time to upgrade to hospitality for tomorrow’s fixture and enjoy the game in style. For £40 per person, plus VAT, you can enjoy a buffet lunch with access to a pay bar, food and hot drinks at half-time, and directors box seating. Other benefits including player appearances, opportunities to win prizes and more are also included. Contact office@dumbartonfc.co.uk or call 01389 762569 to book or for more information.
If you can’t make it to the Rock and are outwith the UK and Ireland, then our match streaming service ensures you won’t miss a kick. Purchase here for £10: https://dumbartonfootballclub.com/onlinematch/.
Bar 72 will be open for supporters from 1.30pm ahead of kick-off for supporters of both sides. Elgin fans should enter through turnstiles 1 and 2, and will be taken to the visiting section of the stand before 3.00pm.
Tomorrow’s referee is Alastair Grieve and he will be assisted by Drew Kirkland and Craig Macrae.