DUMBARTON manager Stevie Aitken praised his side’s character after they gained a vital three points against Falkirk on Saturday, writes Jack Crawford.

Sons went in front on the stroke of half time via and own goal and Garry Fleming scored the winner for Dumbarton just a couple of minutes after the visitors had equalised in the second half.

Aitken admitted he feared the worst when the Bairns equalised.

He said: “Against a team like Falkirk when it goes back to one each you think that they’re in the ascendancy and they’re going to go on and win it.

“It showed the character of my players because every one to a man worked their socks off. I’ve never questioned their character. It’s a well deserved three points.”

The game was the first clash for Sons at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium after they were stunned by junior side Bonnyrigg Rose in the Scottish Cup.

Aitken admitted that his players had a point to prove after that game, and said: “It’s been well publicised that the Scottish Cup was a disappointment.

“The players are only human. They didn’t go out that night and want to get beaten. It just didn’t go well and they know that.

“It just shows you how it can change. We’ve now got the celebrations of a terrific win.”

Other results also went Sons’ way with relegation rivals St Mirren, Ayr United, Dunfermline and Queen of the South all dropping points.

Aitken said: “The league is judged over 36 games. There’s a lot of big games coming up.”