DUMBARTON assistant manager Stevie Farrell has insisted that the standards set by the team in the opening fixtures over Hibs and St Mirren will be expected of the players in every game this season.

Sons did a number on last season’s Championship runners-up, playing with an intensity and defensive structure which the Easter Road side struggled to break down in the 2-1 victory.

Those hallmarks were also evident in Saturday’s 2-1 at St Mirren Park.

However Farrell has let the players know they are expected to live up to their opening game heroics in each game they play this year, regardless of the opposition.

He said: “That is the benchmark of how we approach every game. It’s not just for a Hibs or a St Mirren game when there’s a bit of media attention, which was great to play the way we did both with and without the ball.

“That is the approach, the work ethic and intensity we want in every game whoever we are playing.” Last season under Ian Murray, Dumbarton’s success was built on an impressive record against teams around them in the league, while they gained only registered three draws against the top four sides in the division.

Farrell is under no illusion that if Dumbarton are going to be comfortable in the league once again, games like the ones Sons face at the start of September when Alloa travel to the Rock before Sons trip to Morton, will be crucial. Although he is convinced Sons are capable of more upsets this season He said: “We need to be realistic, there is only one other part-time team in the league apart from us. We believe we have a good set of players and we have built a good side.

“There is no reason we can’t go into every game believing we can pick up points, and every point is going to be a prisoner in this league. Whether those points come against the teams that are around the bottom or against the teams higher up is irrelevant.”