Friday 29th July 2016
MARK DOCHERTY hopes that Dumbarton’s Betfred Cup campaign can end on a high with victory over Peterhead tomorrow.
The popular left back admits that the sectional matches have been disappointing, with only one point taken from nine against Forfar, East Fife and Dundee.
But the match against the Blue Toon not only gives the chance to put more points on the board – it also raises spirits ahead of next week’s league opener.
And although Sons cannot qualify from their group whatever tomorrow’s result, Mark remains upbeat ahead of league business starting at Dunfermline.
He said: “It would be good to win on Saturday. With the league campaign starting next week at Dunfermline, which is a tough place to go, we want to go there off the back of a good result.
“We’re playing a team from the league below us on Saturday but are expecting a tough game, where we will be looking for a result.
“The cup section has been a bit flat. We’ve been disappointed in terms of results and I don’t think we’ve hit the ground running as well as we’d have liked to do.
“But it’s nothing to panic about. You always want to do well in cup games but we’re looking forward to the league starting.
“We’ve brought in some new players and it takes time for squads to gel together.”
After Peterhead, it is on to the league opener at Dunfermline Athletic next Saturday, when the Pars will raise the League One flag.
Mark famously claimed on social media late last season that he hoped to spoil a team’s title party, an ambition which did not happen in the end.
But although realising Dunfermline’s capabilities, it is a challenge he is looking forward to.
He added: “I know Dunfermline are a big club and they are going to have a large support with them. They did really well to win the league comfortably and will be looking to stamp their authority from the start.
“It won’t be an easy game, but we know we are a capable side as well and we are looking forward to it.”
Andy Galloway