Jack Crawford

DUMBARTON manager Stevie Farrell admits it’s no coincidence his side are turning into a tough nut to crack as he continues to welcome key players back to full fitness.

DUMBARTON manager Stevie Farrell admits Saturday’s battling 2-0 victory over Bonnyrigg Rose was one of his favourite performances of the season.

Dumbarton manager Stevie Farrell admits that it is no surprise to him that his side are starting to find the net as they rounded off the first quarter of the cinch League Two season with a comfortable win against Clyde.

Stevie Farrell says Dumbarton need to find their killer instinct up front after losing their second League Two match in a row.

Dumbarton boss Stevie Farrell admits he took a number of positives out of Saturday, despite his side being knocked out of the SPFL Trust Trophy.  

Dumbarton manager Stevie Farrell had his backroom staff to thank for finding a way past Forfar Athletic and picking up their first three points of the season.

Dumbarton boss Stevie Farrell was left to rue his sides missed chances on Saturday as their League Two campaign started with a 1-1 draw at Bonnyrigg Rose.

Dumbarton manager Stevie Farrell insists the best is yet to come from his new look approach. His side picked up their second win of pre-season on Saturday with a 4-0 win at AFC Workington thanks to goals from Ross MacLean, Ryan Blair, Declan Byrne and Luca Vata. Faz is imposing a new style of play on Sons this season after missing out on promotion from League Two in the 2022/23 campaign. Dumbarton are looking to switch to a high-pressing 4-3-3 shape that’s creating plenty of chances in front of goal, though Farrell last week admitted it could leave his side vulnerable at the other end. The Sons boss believes his troops can still get better in the final third and is excited about what is still to come. Speaking post-match, he said: “We purposely scheduled a pre-season so it was against teams at the level of what we are going to be playing against in League Two. “Workington got promoted last season and are a very good side, last year coming here it was a really competitive game and I thought it was the same on Saturday. “We had to be on our toes a couple of times and Brett [Long] had a great save at 1-0, but I thought we should have been 3-0 up before we were even 1-0 up. “I’m really delighted in terms of the press up the top end of the pitch and we’re getting joy. We’ve got good footballers and if we press high up it’s going to help us. “We’ve still got miles to go and we’ll not get carried away. We’ll continue to develop the way we’re going to play this year with the players and the formation we are trying to play. “From the first game against Caledonian Braves up until Saturday we have seen that progression and that’ll go up again during the Viaplay Cup because we’ll be up against really good quality. “With and without the ball I am delighted and I just want to see us tidy up in the final third better. “If you’re creating chances, you’re going to score goals and we’re certainly creating chances and getting into good areas. “As we get sharper through pre-season and the Viaplay Cup and things come together with players understanding then it’s just going to get better and better.” Sons now head into a challenging Viaplay Cup campaign which kicks off this weekend at Airdrieonians. Fixtures with Inverness CT, Bonnyrigg Rose and Dundee then await but Farrell revealed he won’t be shutting up shop against higher ranked opposition. He added: “We’re not going to change over the Viaplay Cup. “It will be what it is but we will be playing the way we are going to go into the season. “I would love to be successful in the Viaplay Cup but the most important thing for me in these four games is getting the team ready to play in the league season.”

Dumbarton’s first public friendly ahead of the 2023/24 campaign ended in defeat against Hebburn Town on Saturday.

Dumbarton manager Stevie Farrell insists he knows his side may have to sacrifice some clean sheets for more attacking football in the season ahead.