Dumbarton boss Jim Duffy says that his side can’t afford any more slip ups as they fell to the bottom of League One at the weekend.

Sons weren’t in action due to their scheduled opponents Raith Rovers still being in the Scottish Cup, but Stenhousemuir’s 1-0 victory over Montrose was enough to lift the Ochilview side off the foot of the table with Dumbarton falling to tenth.

Duffy’s side faced Premiership side Livingston in a bounce game on Saturday instead and the Sons manager was pleased to be able to give game time to some players in need.

The likes of Craig Barr and Ross Perry have been missing through injury for some time, and whilst the duo have made cameos in recent weeks, were still lacking match sharpness.

Read more: Jim Duffy demands consistency as Dumbarton salvage point

Duffy hopes that as he starts to welcome players back from injury in what has been an unfortunate period of injuries for Dumbarton, it will encourage other players to raise their game.

He said: “It gives us a bit more strength in depth.

“It also gives us competition for places and that’s what you need as a player.

“You need a good player breathing down your neck knowing that if you don’t play well, you’ll not be in the team next week.

“Although players don’t deliberately do it, it does take a wee edge off you knowing that you’ll be in the team no matter how you perform.

“We can state facts, not excuses, that we’ve been decimated more than any other club by long term injuries but we’ve also made basic errors and not picked up enough points.

“What’s gone is gone and we can only focus on ourselves now.

“There’s 13 games to go and we can’t afford too many more slip ups.”

On Saturday Dumbarton travel to Stair Park to face Stranraer.