Dumbarton are in action for the final time in 2024 tomorrow afternoon as they host Kelty Hearts at the Marbill Coaches Stadium [kick-off 3:00pm].
Sons will be looking to build on a morale boosting away win against Montrose at Links Park last weekend, where goals in either half from Finlay Gray earned the visitors a well earned 2-1 victory.
Kelty picked up three points themselves with a 2-0 win against Queen of the South, with back-to-back victories in League One taking them to second in the table and just two points off the top.
This will already be the third meeting between the clubs this season – the first of which was a 2-2 draw at the Rock where Mark Durnan scored twice for Dumbarton in August and the other a 2-0 win for Kelty in November at New Central Park.
Boss Stevie Farrell knows that his side are capable of hurting teams in the final third but was keen to see them do the ugly side game of the well last weekend.
Speaking last week, he said: “I was really happy with us last weekend and I think we deserved the win, and we were probably quite unlucky it wasn’t a few more if we had taken a bit more care in the final third.
“We’ve got the best attacking stats in terms of shots on goal and touches in the opposition box but our defensive stats weren’t good enough and I think we needed a defensive display that was really resolute.
“In real terms we have taken 13 points from the quarter which is a decent return. We’re not a bad side and we proved that last weekend.
“Kelty are a great side with quality all over the park and are the highest scorers in the league for a reason so we need to show all of the same qualities that we showed against Montrose to give ourselves a chance of a successful outcome.”
In team news, Brett Long and James Hilton will be welcomed back to the squad as they return from suspension and injury respectively. Mark Durnan picked up an ankle knock last weekend and is set to join Michael Miller and Michael Ruth on the sidelines.
Commenting on the injury situation, Faz added: “Michael Miller will probably out for a wee while and Jinky [Hilton] came back in for some light training on Tuesday. We had a scan on Michael Ruth and he has a tear on his hip – he doesn’t need an operation but he does need rehab and we’ve been told he’ll be back with us in three weeks.”
Supporters are encouraged to take their seats in plenty of time ahead of kick-off as a minutes applause will take place in memory of chief youth scout Alan McDevitt, who sadly passed away last week.
Those visiting the Rock tomorrow can find out everything they need to know with our match day information guide here: