Wednesday 13th July 2022
DUMBARTON play their second Premier Sports Cup sectional match tonight – the first of a double header in northeast Scotland, visiting cinch Premiership outfit Aberdeen.
The Dons have become regular opponents for Sons in cup competitions of late, having played us in the Scottish Cup in 2020 and 2021.
Sons ran them close on each of those occasions before late goals ensured two 1-0 wins for Aberdeen. It is hoped that tonight’s match will be just as good a contest, and perhaps with a bit of luck.
After Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Stirling Albion in the opening Premier Sports Cup tie, manager Stevie Farrell is looking for hard work from his players tonight.
He said: “We never got going in the second half on Saturday and Stirling deserved to win, but that is in the past now.
“Tonight is a very different assignment. We know how heavily Aberdeen will be fancied tonight and we face a difficult task in stopping them.
“But we showed against another Premiership outfit last season, Dundee, how difficult we can make life for top-flight opposition.
“The long journey and evening kick-off, with some players working earlier in the day, make this a tough task.
“However, we will go there and work hard, and look to upset the odds as best we can.”
Ryan Blair (pictured) is now free of suspension after missing Saturday’s game due to an accumulation of bookings in the 2020/21 League Cup.
Ally Love will also return to the squad, but Edin Lynch and Ryan McGeever are not quite ready to return to action yet.
Aberdeen. who have won the League Cup in its various guises six times, were knocked out by Raith Rovers in the last 16 of last season’s competition.
However, they opened their campaign this year with a 2-0 win away to Peterhead on Sunday.
We have actually lost all of our last three meetings with the Dons 1-0, having also lost to them in the 2013/14 Scottish Cup quarter final at Pittodrie.
This will be our first meeting with them in the League Cup since 2003/04, when Aberdeen were 3-1 winners at home.
To date, Aberdeen have made six close season signings, including defender Liam Scales on loan from Celtic and their new club captain, Anthony Stewart, from Wycombe Wanderers.
Supporters attending tonight’s game are reminded of admission prices for the game, with admission by cash at the turnstile.
Colin Steven is the referee tonight, with assistance from Sean Carr and Andy Milne.
Should tomorrow’s game end in a draw, it will go straight to a penalty shootout for the bonus point, with no extra time.
Dumbarton Football Club