Thursday 17th September 2015
IT’S the question everybody at Dumbarton wants to know ahead of Saturday.
How do you get any sort of result against Rangers?
Mark Docherty may or may not have a definitive answer. But he’s becoming an expert at it.
The full back played against the Ibrox club for Alloa five times last season – and lost only once.
And when he faces the league leaders for Sons on Saturday, one moment on a cold Wednesday evening in December 2014 may be at the back of his mind.
Eighteen minutes from full time, Alloa were 2-0 down to Rangers in the Petrofac Cup semi-final. Then Mark sent over a cross.
Greig Spence met it and scored. The Wasps, unthinkably, went on and won 3-2.
Mark also played for Alloa in three league draws against Rangers last season, and on Boxing Day 2013 was in the Stranraer side managed by Stevie Aitken who recorded a 1-1 draw at Ibrox.
Nobody at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium is pretending that a result will be easy on Saturday. However, Mark reckons he can once again help to secure one.
He said: “I’ve a decent record against Rangers, but the only way to get any sort of result against them is by sticking together and working hard.
“With the players we have got, I’m sure we will work hard and hopefully we can come up with the goods on the day.
“To go 2-0 down in that semi-final and come back to win 3-2 was unbelievable and I’ll never forget it. Setting up the first goal for Greig was good on a personal note.
“But to be honest, what I did with Alloa is all in the past. I’m with a new club and a new group of players – and Rangers seem to be a different beast this season.
“There’s no hiding from the fact that it’s going to be tough, and they will be big favourites, but it’s not an impossible task and we’re looking forward to it.”
While Rangers have started the season with 10 victories in all competitions, Sons are looking for their first win in five on Saturday.
But Mark insists the goals will come, and Saturday’s ferociously-paced 0-0 draw at Morton can set them up to take on the leaders.
He added: “The goals will come soon. It’s just the nature of football that luck comes and goes in front of goal.
“Garry Fleming was very unlucky on Saturday. The keeper made an unbelievable save from him and then he got in front of the keeper to meet my cross, but his header hit the post.
“The boys know that if we keep putting dangerous balls in the box it’s only a matter of time before the goals arrive.
“Results haven’t been great, with three defeats in a row before Saturday, but it was a decent point to get away from home.
“Rangers have started the season really well, but it’s a game where we’re capable of getting something and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Andy Galloway @AGallowaySport