Stevie Aitken said his side got exactly what they deserved as they fell to defeat at the hands of East Fife on Tuesday night in the Betfred Cup.

The Fifers ran out 2-0 winners at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium thanks to first-half goals from Kevin Smith and Paul McManus.

And the Dumbarton manager said the players were more disappointed in their performance than anyone else.

Aitken said: “We got what we deserved. We were not good enough and have to take it on the chin and move on, which I am sure we will do.

“They (the players) are more disappointed than anyone else, we have to pick ourselves up now, it’s our jobs to do that, we know we’re down on bodies, we’ve still got a players to come in and you can see that from the bench, and Darren Barr wasn’t fully fit as he’s been out injured.

“We let ourselves down. They let themselves down and they let the fans down. They’re disappointed because they’re better than that, they proved over last season and pre-season that they’re better than that.

“But also when you lose two goals like that it’s an uphill struggle and that’s been the case the last few games.”

In a disappointing display Grant Gallagher was shown a straight red as he lashed out at Smith on 58 minutes, visibly frustrated as he kicked him as he tried to reclaim the ball.

He added: “We’re disappointed that Grant has done that, we spoke to everybody at half-time and said we need everybody on board here, and to not do anything daft and it was daft – but it was frustration as the players know themselves that they’re better than they showed in the second half.

“The first 20 minutes we started fine and I’m thinking this is fine , but as soon as we lost the goal we let our heads go down. It’s been a worry as that’s happened a few times now.

“But it’s our job to pick them back up now, the season’s not started yet, we’re still working to get players in and I’m sure when we do get players in then we’ll be in a better position than we’re in just now.

“We are struggling for bodies, there’s no doubt about that.”

And when asked if he was worried about his side’s showings against Forfar and East Fife he said: “No, we took points off Hibs and St Mirren who were the big teams last year and it didn’t worry them so no, it doesn’t worry us.”

Aitken added: “Credit to East Fife tonight, they were clinical, and took their chances when they got them.

“That was the difference, that’s what cost us.”

Frazer Wright was forced to sit Tuesday night’s game out with concussion. The boss also gave an update of when he hoped captain on skipper Darren Barr’s fitness.

would return to full fitness.

He added: “It’s a six-day rule now, apparently players can’t play with concussion, so we could not use him (Wright) at all, but he’ll be back for the weekend.

“Darren Barr is also back now, he’s doing a bit of training and we’ll focus on him getting in for the Peterhead game. maybe to get him ready for that.”

The season’s not started yet, we’re only in July, we’re disappointed but we’re not going to worry that it’s a crisis, there’s good players in that dressing room, good experience and they’ll pick themselves up, there’s no doubt about that.”

And the manager gave us an update on the transfer activity.

He said: We’re talking to clubs, clubs have agreed to give us players, it just takes us a bit of time to get them in so it’s a pain, it’s a waiting game at the moment, it’s frustrating for myself and the players and the supporters.

“We need to get players in, there’s no doubt about that we knew that but we’re hoping that we’re through the league cup, the league is always your bread and butter and we’ve just got to make sure we’re ready for the challenge ahead and it’s two weeks away and I’m sure we will be when that happens.”