Friday 5th February 2016
DUMBARTON entertain Premiership club Dundee at the the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium this weekend, in the last sixteen of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
Sons have progressed to round five of the competition thanks to deserved victories against Alloa Athletic and Queen of the South.
Both clubs are familiar to players and supporters alike being Championship members, so it was no surprise to learn that manager Stevie Aitken is looking forward to a different team providing the opposition now.
He said: “It’s great to be at this stage of the competition and we’ve done really well to get here.
“The visit of Dundee will be a great occasion. The game will have an edge to it.
“They have a large travelling support and I understand that their ticket allocation is sold out, so a big crowd creates a good atmosphere for everyone.
“It will be a very difficult game. After all, Dundee are a Premiership team and are current in the top six of that division. That fact alone means that we go into the game as underdogs.
“But, on our day, we can be good enough to win, and things are always different in cup matches.”
Sons last faced the Dens Park club in Scottish Cup action in January 1993. Billy Lamont was in charge that day and Dumbarton lost 2-0.
Dumbarton can look back on many highlights from past Scottish Cup campaigns.
For example, Sons went into the hat for the court round of the Cup on 6th February 1978 thanks to a 2-1 win against Alloa Athletic. Goals from Graham Fyfe and Murdo MacLeod helped Sons to the victory.
The team that day was: Williams, McLuskey, McNeil, Muir, Sinclair, Fyfe, D. Whiteford, MacLeod, J. Whiteford, Gallacher. Subs: Ally MacLeod, Blair.
The latest team news is that on-loan Ranger Tom Walsh is free to play, with the Ibrox club giving permission for the winger to participate in the Scottish Cup.
New signing Christian Nade is also eligible, despite being named as a sub in the last round whislt at Hamilton Accies. The fact that he did not eneter the field of play means he is available.
On the injury front, Jamie Lindsay will miss out following a midweek foot operation.
Mark Brown is getting over the virus that has floored him in the past two weeks.
Alan Findlay & Simon Barrow