Dunlop can put Sons on track

Published 13 Jan 2010 09:54 0 Comments

Share this

DUMBARTON skipper Mick Dunlop insists the Sons players won't freeze because their Second Division campaign has been halted by the cold snap.

Dunlop and the rest of the Dumbarton squad have had no match action, apart from a behind-closed-doors friendly, since December 15 when they played against league leaders Stirling Albion at Forthbank Stadium.

Jim Chapman's men have made up for their lack of games with training sessions, but Dunlop reckons the team won't be affected by the constant postponements because every other club in the division had no chance of playing either.

He said: "We have been training in the indoor facility in Toryglen so our training schedule has not been affected. It is disappointing to have games being postponed.

"But it is not something that will be a problem because everyone else is in the same boat as us. If it was just Dumbarton who weren't playing it would obviously be a problem to us but it is something everyone will have to put up with.

"Our last match was against Stirling Albion last month so we will be looking at four or five weeks before we can play our next match.

"I think everyone is in a situation where they will just have to start from scratch."

Chapman will be on the lookout for new blood to strengthen his side in the second half of the campaign and Dunlop believes the extra competition will improve the Sons squad.

He said: "If the manager bringing in new players improves the quality of the team it will be positive. He isn't going to bring in players to make up the numbers.

"He will be getting guys to improve the quality of the team and that should keep the players on their toes.

"We have one game to go until we reach the half-way point of the season and we are sitting in fifth place. If he can bring in new players then we should be able to kick start the second half of our season."

Dunlop also believes the performances of the Dumbarton team have turned on their head since they entered the Second Division back in August.

He added: "Pre-season was difficult because of the teams we were playing against. I think when you play against the calibre of sides we were up against it will always be difficult and it was a real test for us.

"At the start of the season I don't think anyone was performing to their potential. In September Ben Gordon and myself were left out of the team and in the next game at Peterhead I played and I think since then I have been performing well.

"Since then I have been on form and I can't complain about my own performances. But so long as the team have been performing then I think that's all that matters.

"In this league you can't look too far ahead because it is so unpredictable. Having played all of the teams in the division, I think Stirling Albion are the best side - but they played against Clyde, who are bottom of the league, and drew 2-2. You have to look at the match at hand, get the three points and move on to the next game.

"But we probably have one of the biggest supports in the league and at the end of the season we want to give them something to shout about."

This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 12 Jan 10

Follow @dumbartonreport

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.