Under pressure Stevie Aitken blasted his side for shipping poor goals as Stenhousemuir came from behind to win 2-1 on Saturday.

But the Sons boss urged fans to stick by the club as they weather a host of injuries depleting the side.

Bobby Barr had Dumbarton ahead early on at Ochilview, but the hosts quickly equalised through Seb Ross.

Conner Duthie then scored late on for Stenny as Sons fell to their second League One defeat in a row and dropped into the bottom two.

He said: “It’s disappointing, not good enough – we lost two poor goals.

“We got ourselves a good start, but I think that’s four or five times we’ve scored then lost a goal in three minutes.

“The biggest issue I have is fit players. Stuart Carswell was injured and on the bench to make up numbers, Ryan Thomson had a chest infection. Probably the advice of the doctor was not to play him but we had no option.

“We’ve got nine players for next week and it’s really hurting us at the moment.

“I’ll need to speak to the club again and to the contacts we have got and see if there is anything we can do to try and get through this period.”

Aitken had strengthened his side during the week by securing Scott Allardice and Jack Aitchison on loan from Dundee United and Celtic respectively, as well as former Kilmanock midfielder Brad Spencer on a deal until the end of the season.

All three new signings started, with Aitchison helping the ball out wide to Iain Russell in six minutes in the build-up to the opener before Barr poked the ball underneath the onrushing Graeme Smith.

It was Barr’s second in as many games as he also opened the scoring at Glebe Park last week, but Sons lead wouldn’t even last five minutes at Ochilview.

Ross got on the end of a cross and delicately chipped the ball over Grant Adam and into the net.

Aitchison was looking lively for Dumbarton and Celtic’s youngest ever goalscorer nearly had his side back ahead, but for a vital block just as he pulled the trigger.

Sons’ corner count was increasing in the first half but they couldn’t create a clear chance at goal.

If anything, the hosts should have been ahead before the break as Kevin O’Hara’s dipping volley was collected by Adam, and Andy Dowie then did just enough to prevent Mark McGuigan from rolling the ball home at the back post.

In the second half, Aitchison continued to prove to be a menace with Spencer’s energy in midfield also impressing.

The 18-year-old Celtic loanee created two good chances for Sons, but Morgyn Neill recovered well to prevent Loy or Russell from meeting his ball into the box. Barr also should have had his side back ahead but drilled an effort wide, with Aitchison again the architect.

Stenny, for the most part, had dealt with everything they had thrown at them and would then take the lead with ten minutes to go.

Duthie fired the ball into the top corner, despite the best efforts from Adam and Sons were staring another defeat right in the face.

They pushed forward but couldn’t create anything of note against a well-organised and disciplined Stenny side, with substitute Ross Forbes flashing a shot wide the closest they came.

Dumbarton only remain off the bottom of the league on goal difference after East Fife’s win at the weekend.

They welcome Montrose to The Rock for two games in a row, first on Saturday in Irn-Bru cup action before league duty returns the following week, as Aitken reassured fans that they will regain their form.

He added: “Montrose is a hindrance for us and right now I don’t know where the players will come from.

“We need to see how Stuart is and Ross Perrie and Andy Little are definitely out, and probably Craig Barr is out and Michael Paton is definitely out.

“It’s a frustrating time for myself and supporters, but what I’ll say is stay with the players, we’re all hurting, but there are issues why we are losing. games and performances - we’re getting hurt with injuries left right and centre.

“Once we get them back I’m more than confident we will have a successful season.”