Wednesday 27th August 2014
SONS’ boss Ian Murray has praised his players for their performance in a competitive mid-week game against Hibernian, saying the team needs to bring that spirit to the all-important league campaign.
Dumbarton looked on the brink of a famous Scottish League Cup victory against Hibernian at the Easter Road stadium last night.
However a 2-0 second half lead evaporated in the face of a final surge from the Edinburgh side; one that gave them a late 3-2 win.
“If we had kept ahead on 82 minutes perhaps things would have been different and we would have gone on to win,” Murray noted – adding ruefully, “But that’s football.”
This was, he said, “a tremendous effort which we need to take into our league form.”
Overall the gaffer declared himself to be “gutted but extremely proud” after the last-gasp defeat.
Many of his players had come to the match from work and the squad had only arrived at the stadium at 7pm, not long before kick-off, said the Sons boss.
“But they are not using that as an excuse in the dressing room right now… they take responsibility and want to win.”
“We had [Hibernian] watched four or five times, which is a lot for a part-time team, but we are fortunate to have people who can help with that,” he added.
All attention is now focused on Dumbarton’s upcoming SPFL Championship game at home against Livingston on Saturday 30th August.
Simon Barrow