DUMBARTON boss Jim Duffy says he expects another cagey 90 minutes as Sons put their League One status on the line tonight (Tuesday) in the second leg of their play-off semi-final.

There was little to separate the sides in Saturday’s goalless first leg at Stair Park.

Stranraer, managed by former Dumbarton assistant boss Stevie Farrell, had the pick of the chances, but neither side wanted to lose heading into the second leg at the C&G Systems Stadium this evening.

Duffy says he anticipated a close encounter – and expects more of the same tonight.

Speaking post-match, the 62-year-old said: “It was a difficult match, with both teams giving everything – as you’d expect – with very few real chances.

“Stranraer are a difficult side to play against and on a really good run of form, and we are always competitive. I think it was a fair result.

“I would have thought that the games are all going to be decided on fractions here and there, maybe an element of good fortune or a wee bit of quality that can turn the tide for you.

“We came down and tried to be positive. I said to the players we wanted to play on the front foot and try and take the game to Stranraer, but the game dictated it was just ‘roll your sleeves up and compete’, and that’s what we did do.

“There’s not any difference between home and away these days – I think you see that with the stats in any league – so we’ll look forward to the challenge on Tuesday but I’m sure it’ll be a similar challenge.”

Sons were left facing the play-offs after Clyde’s 2-1 win over East Fife at Broadwood last Thursday condemned Dumbarton to a ninth place finish in the regular standings.

Daryl Duffy was at the centre of the action for the hosts on Saturday as he found himself through on goal, only to be denied by the legs of Sam Ramsbottom, and then had a speculative strike from 35 yards fly just past the post in the first half.

And at the other end Adam Frizzell and Jaime Wilson showed signs of forming a threatening partnership as the two linked up but failed to fashion a clear shot on goal – Wilson also had the ball in the net at one point, but the linesman had raised his flag for offside.

The second half started brighter and showed signs of being more exciting than the opening period, although that slowly faded away.

Wilson nodded wide at the back post and Rabin Omar had a shot that looked to be creeping in the near post pushed behind by goalkeeper Greg Fleming, with Thomas Orr skewing a strike wide of the target for the hosts.

Thomas Orr failed to find the net for the hosts from a couple of yards, and Robert Jones’ lob was cleared off the line by Jamie Hamill, but there was to be no late drama and the tie remains very much in the balance.

he Stranraer man then had the clearest chance of the game with just over ten minutes to go when he got on the end of Sean Burns low cross from the left but couldn’t find the target from just a couple of yards.

Sons’ best moment in front of goal came in the final ten minutes when Robert Jones’ lobbed effort was cleared off of the line by Jamie Hammill after Fleming had found himself out of position.

Forbes slashed a volley wide in the closing stages, but there was to be no late drama – and the tie remains very much in the balance heading into the second leg at the C&G Systems Stadium this evening.

Kick-off tonight is at 7.45pm and there’s no away goals rule, so any draw after 90 minutes will require extra time, and the possibility of penalties, to separate the sides.

As with all Dumbarton’s home games this season, the match will be streamed live online - with no charge for season ticket holders.