Dumbarton boss Stevie Farrell welcomed Saturday’s point against top of the league Cove Rangers – and admitted it was a game he felt his side would have lost earlier this season.

Stuart Carswell’s penalty gave Sons the interval advantage before the visitors hit back with two goals in two minutes after the break.

But Carswell made it a double from the spot with five minutes to go to earn the hosts a share of the points – and to end Cove’s run of nine League One wins in a row.

Faz said afterwards he believed his side were well worth the draw – but that he didn’t think referee Alan Muir, who awarded two penalties to the hosts and one to the visitors, got every call right.

Speaking post-match, he said: “In the first-half I thought 1-0 flattered them a wee bit. We had three great chances before the goal we scored.

“Although we were against the wind and they had the territorial advantage, in terms of chances created it was us [who dominated].

“In the second-half they came out and changed their shape and came at us. They are top of the league for a reason – they are a right good side. They’ve had nine clean sheets in their last ten games so we knew they were going to come at us.

“I don’t think either of the last two penalties are penalties. It evens itself out.

“We’ve not had many draws this year; we haven’t ground many out. We’ve brought in players during the transfer window and changed the dynamic, and I’m not sure we would have got that draw earlier in the season.

“I don’t think many people as a neutral could say there was much between the two teams.”

Dumbarton released Andy Geggan and Evan Maley prior to Monday’s deadline for transfers in Scotland – and the Sons boss hinted there may be another new face or two to join the names that have already arrived at The Rock in the shape of Kieran Wright, Stephen Bronsky, Adam Hutchinson, Gregg Wylde and Joshua Oyinsan.

He added: “We’re trying to get a striker in just now but there is international clearance required.

“He has been in training with us, a Belgian striker, so we’ll hopefully get that over the line.

“With Andy Geggan going we might look at the loan market for one more. The big part for the club is to make sure that the window has been cost neutral and we’ve did that.

“We’ve got a lot of people out because we’re respectful of the clubs financial position and we’ve brought people in that we think can help us and it’s not cost us a million pounds as well which is good.”