Sons’ had a free weekend due to Scottish Cup ties being played on Saturday and Sunday but face a crucial trip to Alloa this Saturday — who sit one place and one point behind Sons in the table — home ties with Falkirk and Raith Rovers and a trip to Cowdenbeath conclude the year for Dumbarton.

With Livingston incurring a five point deduction last week for breaching league rules regarding payment of tax, the games give Dumbarton a chance to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

He said: “These games will define our season. These are the big games for us, its not games against the likes of Rangers or Hearts its the games against sides around us.

“The win over Livingston was a big result and Alloa is a great chance for us, we know if we win it gives us a cushion over them and Cowdenbeath have are away to Rangers on Saturday. If we can come through these games well we can maybe start to look at the teams above us.” Graham believes that Sons have shown they have a better chance in games when they set out to attack teams — although that way of playing can leave the centre-half exposed. While also admitting that the three at the back system Dumbarton started with in their last two games did not work — something manager Ian Murray addressed at half-time in both the Livingston and Hibs ties.

He said: “On the basis of the last two games I think you could argue that we are more suited to playing four at the back. The three worked well against Rangers and to be fair the manager and the coaching staff said to us that they had got it wrong against Hibs.

“That is one difficulty of being a part-time side we have less time to work on different things.

“Against Hibs at 3-2 and particularly at 4-3 Hibs looked nervous. I feel that is the best way for us to play, just to really go at teams. It’s not great for me as a defender as we end up conceding more but I think we’re better suited to it as a team.”