An opportunity in the cup

DAVID BADDIEL, Frank Skinner and the Lightning Seeds once famously sang about England suffering 30 years of hurt.

Now, as Dumbarton head across the Anglo-Scottish border on St Andrew’s Day, they have the chance to end their own three decades of waiting for their fortunes to change.

Back on Saturday, February 11 1984, an Albert Craig goal was not enough to prevent Sons from losing 2-1 to Morton in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup. Little was anyone at Cappielow that day to know that to this day, it would still be Dumbarton’s last appearance at that stage of the competition. The competition has been staged 29 times since and Sons have never advanced beyond the round where the ‘bigger’ teams enter.

Victory away to Berwick Rangers on Saturday will end that wait and add to the club’s recent achievements. The CV of the 2010s, which already contains promotion to the second tier of Scottish football, followed by consolidation at that level, will be further boosted. On paper Sons are many people’s favourites against the League Two outfit. But that, as Sons know from the last time they were favourites in the ‘big gun’ round of the cup, that doesn’t mean anything on grass.

That occasion was January 1992, when Highland League side Huntly came to Boghead Park. Fortunately the memory of Sons’ 2-0 defeat was erased less than four months later when the team won the Second Division title. But it was still a day when they were victims of a giantkilling act.

Victory is the most important thing on Saturday, regardless of how long the club has gone without reaching the cup’s last 16. But extra motivation can come from the opportunity that awaits Sons in this season’s competition. The chance of an extended cup run that may not come their way again for a long time.

By Sunday evening four SPFL Premiership teams are guaranteed to be out of the competition. They will include one of the last two sides to lift the trophy, Hearts or Celtic. At least eight of the sides in the fifth round draw, including the winners of Sons’ tie, will come from outside the top flight. There are no easy ties. No opponents to be written off. But with the number of all-top flight contests in this year’s fourth round, a real free-for-all is in prospect. Everyone will fancy their chances. That’s what makes the Scottish Cup such a competition to relish.

A full busload of Sons fans will travel to Shielfield Park in the hope of seeing their team win away for a fifth time in six road trips. They will also, whether on the day or in a replay, witness a team whose colours contain black and gold advancing to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup. The hope of everyone on that bus will be that it’s Dumbarton – who, for once in the ‘big gun’ round, are the bookies’ favourites. It’s been a long time since that day at Cappielow. Manager Ian Murray and his players will feel it’s time it was ended.

Paul wants a successful border raid

There’s one name that makes Paul McGinn determined to help Dumbarton avoid a Scottish Cup shock on Saturday.

Bo’ness United.

The defender can still remember Saturday, October 23, 2010 – the day he was in the Queen’s Park side knocked out by the junior outfit in the competition’s second round.

Despite taking the lead at United’s Newtown Park the Spiders eventually lost 2-1 and bowed out of the competition at the first hurdle.

Sons have already navigated their opening obstacle this season by beating Cowdenbeath 2-1 earlier this month. Now they head for Berwick on Saturday in the almost unfamiliar position of favourites in the round where the big guns enter the Scottish Cup.

But despite his team being two divisions higher than their League Two opponents, Paul knows that they will need to be on top of their game to advance to the last 16.

The in-form defender recalled: “The Queens players felt they were harshly dealt with on the day but Bo’ness kept battling away and scored two goals from set pieces.

“I played left back that day and there was a good atmosphere, but it was very disappointing to go out of the cup that day.

“We are looking forward to playing Berwick on Saturday and will need to be on top of our game. We still need to take our chances when they come along. I’m sure some of our other players will have experienced cup exits against lower league opposition and won’t want to repeat that.

“I played at Shielfield for Queen’s Park and it was quite a tight pitch which wasn’t always in great condition. We know we face a battle and we need to be up for it.

“I suppose there is a bit of extra pressure on us as we are the team from the higher division. Sometimes we are underestimated as we are a part-time team in a mainly full-time division but this time we are the higher-placed side.

“The boys are confident. It was rubbish without a game on Saturday and we can’t wait to get back into match action.

“There are several lower league teams drawn together this year and several Premiership teams drawn together. It is a great opportunity for a lot of teams to make progress in the competition and we want to be one of them.”

Paul and his team-mates were disappointed with the decision to call of Saturday’s home match against Alloa Athletic, which will now be played on Wednesday, December 4.

It will now be part of a crucial double header, with Queen of the South visiting the Rock three days later. After that Sons face all of the top three of Raith Rovers, Hamilton Accies and Dundee – with only the Accies match being at home.

Paul, who signed from St Mirren permanently in the close season after a successful loan spell, added: “We wanted to keep our form going after beating Livingston last week.

“But we got out on to the pitch and the affected area was pretty hard so it was probably the right decision. We held a training session on the part of the pitch that had got the sun.

“Two games a week is just something you have to deal with in football. The big teams are playing Champions League games regularly so we cannot say it is tough on us. A lot of players enjoy match action more than training anyway.

“We need to start winning more at home. We seem to be performing better on the road and it is time we picked up results on our own pitch.”

Weekend round-up

Similarly to Dumbarton, the area’s junior and amateur football teams were badly hit by the weather this weekend.

Vale Juniors were denied the chance to go for their first win since Saturday, October 19 when their home match with Rossvale was called off. The fifth-placed Millburn men now look ahead to next Saturday’s league encounter at home to St Roch’s, who are two places below them in the Central Second Division.

The only match in the league to go ahead saw Wishaw overtake Vale of Clyde at the top on goal difference. A 1-0 win away to Port Glasgow made the difference. Vale are currently six points off the promotion places.

Amateur teams also saw their card decimated by the plummeting temperatures, but some managed to get their games played. Myre Athletic eased through to round four of the Scottish Amateur Cup by winning 4-0 away to East Calder United. Their fourth round tie is this Saturday at home to Eaglesham, who won their third round tie on Saturday – in Dumbarton.

Dumbarton Harp hoped to secure a derby fixture against Myre but went down 3-2 at home to Eaglesham. There was also disappointment in a cup competition for Cardross, who lost 5-4 on penalties at home to Weir’s Recreation in the West of Scotland Cup third round.

Elsewhere, St Patrick’s FP’s West of Scotland Cup third round tie at Chryston was called off and now goes on hold to allow the Dumbarton side to travel to Loanhead in round four of the Scottish Amateur Cup this weekend.

Likewise, Dumbarton Accies had to settle for a day’s training as their match at Doune Castle was postponed. They too are on national cup duty this Saturday, visiting Carluke Hearts in round four.

Both Saints and Accies also saw their B teams’ league games called off, at home to Rannoch and Windlaw respectively. Another Greater Glasgow League outfit, Vale of Leven Academy FP, had their West of Scotland Cup third round tie away to Hamilton FP postponed.

The Vale FPs will now travel to Yoker on Scottish Cup third round duty this Saturday. Elsewhere in the Greater Glasgow League, St Patrick’s B are at home to Partick West in Division One while Dumbarton Harp host Radnor Park in Division Four. Dumbarton Accies B have a free Saturday.

In the Scottish Amateur League, Haldane United and Jamestown were also idle due to the weather. This Saturday sees Haldane visit Craigie Amateurs, of Perth, in the Scottish Cup fourth round, while Jamestown have a Premier Division Two derby match at home to Clydebank.

Neither Loch Lomond nor Helensburgh Rugby Clubs had any action scheduled due to Scotland’s international against Australia. Burgh will visit East Kilbride this Saturday in Western Division One while Lomond go to Strathaven in Western Division Two.

Win over Wasps would be best anniversary present

Ian Murray faced an epic flight across the Atlantic to be unveiled as Dumbarton’s manager.

Now, one year on, his time in charge of Sons has flown in more quickly than his time travelling home from his coaching work in America.

This week marks a year since the gaffer was unveiled at the Bet Butler Stadium – and there’s nothing he would like better to mark the occasion than a victory on Saturday.

Somewhat fittingly, the match is against Alloa Athletic, where Ian played two games on loan from Hibernian as a 19-year-old in 2001.

He will also be up against his former Easter Road team-mate, Paul Hartley, who has managed the Wasps to fourth place in this season’s SPFL Championship.

Sons can take that position from Alloa with a three-goal victory on Saturday and a defeat for Falkirk at home to Cowdenbeath. But whatever the outcome, they will be in a much better position than when Ian took over 12 months ago.

He said: “It has been a very quick year. Progress has been great and the players have helped make the last 12 months excellent for us.

“When I took over we were sitting on five points from 13 league games and now we are on 17 from the same number of fixtures. Hopefully we can mark the first year in charge with a victory over Alloa on Saturday.

“I don’t really have any plans for the next year as we don’t want to get above our station. That’s when things can start to go wrong. We will continue to work hard and aim to continue to get our rewards.

“I know Paul from playing with and against him. We don’t speak as much now as our teams are in the same league, but last season I spoke to him about how he was doing in charge of Alloa.

“He and his backroom staff have done exceptionally well, winning promotion twice and getting them where they are this season. Some people say they have had a lot of resources but the job still has to be done and their win ratio has been excellent.

“Saturday’s game is a great chance for us to kick on from our win at Livingston on Saturday. Both teams will be looking to win the game and will fancy their chances of doing so.

“I don’t think anyone would have said at the start of the season that at this stage, Dumbarton and Alloa would be meeting each other in sixth and fourth positions.”

To achieve victory on Saturday, Ian is demanding that Sons start from the very first whistle against the Wasps – and don’t need the half time team talk they had at Almondvale.

They will still miss the injured duo of defender Scott Smith and forward Garry Fleming – but the gaffer confirmed that both will be in a position to return soon.

He said: “We are still without Scott and Garry this Saturday but Scott will probably be back training next week and Garry the week after.

“Everyone else is fit and available. Winning breeds confidence and we looked sharp in training on Tuesday evening. Everyone knows we have a chance to push into the top half and stay there.

“We played well in the second half at Livingston and deserved to win, but I had to give the players a talk at half time. Mitchel Megginson’s equaliser was probably the least enjoyable goal we have scored this season as we had played so poorly.

“I knew how much better we could play and the reaction in the second half was exceptional. As much as we were disappointing in the first half, we were excellent after the restart.”

Verdict on Scotland

As half time descended on the Aker Stadion in Molde, it was hard to know which was lower – the temperature or the levels of excitement.

Then, 16 minutes into the second half, one swing of Scott Brown’s boot gave Scotland victory over Norway. It was against the run of play at the time and it’s difficult to argue against the assertion that the hosts deserved at least a draw. Manager Gordon Strachan has already admitted it was a lucky victory and the result has been described in some quarters as ‘ill-deserved’.

But that was exactly the beauty of Scotland’s win. How many times has it happened over the years that we’ve been on top of a game and come away with less than we should have? The goalless draw with Serbia which kicked off the 2014 World Cup qualification campaign? Losing the lead twice to draw 2-2 with the Czech Republic in the key game of the Euro 2012 group? The 1-0 defeat to the Netherlands in September 2009 when we deserved so much more?

And when did we last win without playing well? All three victories during the 2014 campaign were on merit. Croatia and Macedonia may have felt they could have taken something from their home games against us but neither could argue with the results. As for the home game against Croatia, that was the most complete performance by the national side since the close call that was the Euro 2008 campaign.

There are limits as to what there is to take from the game, but there were some positives. David Marshall, beaten four times on the team’s last visit to Norway in August 2009, was assured when he needed to be. There may have been an element of fortune about his save from Marcus Pedersen early in the second half, but the goalkeeper’s legs were sufficiently in the way of the striker’s low shot. The chances are that Allan McGregor will still have the number one jersey when the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign kicks off, but a continuation of Marshall’s form for Cardiff City this season may give Strachan something to think about.

The introduction of Barry Bannan to the midfield, and shortly afterwards, that of Craig Conway, also made a difference going forward. And Brown’s goal was very much the good side of his game – the suspect side having been in evidence earlier in the game when he got involved with a Norway defender.

In truth, tonight’s action won’t matter nearly as much as the Euro 2016 qualifying fixtures, which are due to start in September. Scotland will know exactly their task in that group from February when the draw is made. It is likely that the first-choice team for those games will be different in many respects to the side that played in Norway tonight.

But any victory, however lucky, has to be taken as a positive. And if fourth seeds Scotland can beat the third, and possibly second, seeds in their group in similar fashion to how they beat Norway, few people will be bothered. History will record a victory.

Changed days

Bryan Prunty’s last Dumbarton v Alloa match at the Rock was the start of his team going into freefall.

Now he could help a part-time side reach fourth place in the SPFL Championship by finishing on the winning side this Saturday.

The striker, who scored Sons’ clinching third goal in the weekend’s 3-1 win at Livingston, was a Wasps player when the sides met at Dumbarton on Tuesday, January 18 2011.

He was substituted at half time – in favour of fellow future Sons player Jim Lister. Alloa, who had been in the promotion race up to that point, lost 4-1 and were eventually relegated through the play-offs.

Less than three years later, the sides meet at the Rock again on Saturday with very different aspirations. Sons can move up to fourth in the SPFL Championship if results go in their favour.

That spot is currently occupied by the Wasps, who can go third with the right combination of results. For Bryan, who became a Sons player during the 2011 close season after Alloa’s relegation, it is a remarkable turnaround in circumstances.

He said: “I don’t think anyone could have seen so much at stake for both sides. Alloa have done fantastically well this season and it just shows how good it was for us to win there in September.

“Where the two teams are is magnificent for two part-time sides. Being in the play-offs at the end of the season is a bit out of the question but that’s not to say we can’t get there if we work really hard. We will just take each game as it comes.

“It really is changed days from that night at Dumbarton. I remember it quite clearly. Alloa were absolutely hammered that night and got what they deserved out of it.

“That was possibly the start of their move towards the bottom two of the Second Division. They were in freefall after that and it was very difficult to get out of the rut that they were in.”

Bryan sealed Sons’ victory at Almondvale on Saturday after Mitchel Megginson and Chris Turner had cancelled out Livingston’s early opener.

It was the club’s first game at the West Lothian stadium since Bryan’s overhead kick there in February, which was named as Scottish football’s goal of the season. This time he settled for a six-yard tap-in.

And he hopes that he has now given manager Ian Murray something to think about ahead of Saturday’s match against Alloa.

He added: “In the first half at Livingston I thought we were quite poor – if truth be told Livingston could have been out of sight.

“But sometimes you have to ride your luck and getting the goal before the break helped us a lot. In the second half we were excellent.

“You always feel that you are going to score. I got the best goal of last season at Livingston and I’ve now scored the easiest one of this campaign at the same venue!

“However, any goal is great and I was thrilled to bits to score on Saturday. It was a great team move involving Jordan Kirkpatrick and Mark Gilhaney, who squared the ball for me to tap home.

“I always hope to start games but the manager knows I am a very good team player and it is more about the team than myself.”

Sons travel well again

Livingston 1 Dumbarton 3

Almondvale Stadium; Saturday, November 16 2013

TRIVIA question time. Which two teams have won the most away matches in this season’s SPFL Championship so far?

It probably won’t come as much of a surprise that leaders Hamilton Accies are one of them. The other? Dumbarton.

Saturday’s 3-1 win at Livingston was Sons’ fourth win on the road and made it 12 points from 15 on their travels. After Marc McNulty put the home side in front, Mitchel Megginson equalised and Chris Turner’s penalty turned the scoreline round.

Bryan Prunty’s third goal may not have been as spectacular as his overhead kick at Almondvale in February, but it sealed a fully-merited victory. Livingston were added to the list, already containing Alloa, Queen of the South and Falkirk, of teams that Sons have beaten away from home this season.

Had it not been for Hamilton overturning a two-goal deficit to win 4-2 at Cowdenbeath on Saturday, Sons would be the division’s biggest winners away from home so far this season. Second-placed Dundee have won away twice, third-placed Raith Rovers on three occasions.

Sons’ victory also set them up for a tilt at moving into fourth place in the league on Saturday when Alloa visit the Rock.

The swirling wind which greeted the supporters as they arrived at Almondvale was never going to make for a vintage match. And so it proved as both teams took their time to find their stride.

Indeed, the first significant chance was the opener after 19 minutes. Coll Donaldson took off down the right and sent over a low ball which McNulty blasted first time into the roof of the net.

Shortly afterwards Andy Barrowman was close to doubling Livi’s lead only for Jamie Ewings to make a smart block at close range. Then McNulty met a cross at the back post only for his shot to glance off the crossbar and bounce clear.

After 34 minutes Sons had their first serious chance as Turner met Jordan Kirkpatrick’s corner six yards out only for his header to go wide.

But on 43 minutes came an equaliser which had been worth waiting every one of the previous 42. Kirkpatrick’s free kick into the area was headed down by Andy Graham, with Megginson blasting the ball home. It wasn’t too dissimilar to the striker’s stunning equaliser against Dundee United in August’s League Cup tie.

Despite the goal Sons boss Ian Murray had a big half time team talk on his hands. Within only a few minutes of the restart it had taken a huge effect.

One minute after the whistle Kirkpatrick’s shot rebounded around the area, with the ball breaking to Mark Gilhaney, but the Livi keeper saved.

Then almost immediately Kirkpatrick’s shot was blocked, with Colin Nish following up for the rebound only to shoot over.

Already there was only looking like being one winner, and on 52 minutes they got their reward from a move that fully deserved a goal.

An excellent move from defence to attack ended with Paul McGinn being brought down in the area by Connor McDonald. Turner missed a penalty at Almondvale last season but made no mistake this time to put Sons in front.

Sons had Livi just where they wanted them, although the visitors briefly threatened when Martin Scott met a cross from the left but his shot missed the target.

And with 15 minutes left came the goal that sealed victory. After the events of Sons’ previous visit to Livingston in February, only one man was going to score it.

While Prunty scored the overhead kick that stunned Scottish football on the last occasion, this time he settled for a tap-in after Gilhaney squared the ball across goal.

Livingston tried to make a game of it in the closing stages but Ewings was on form to turn McNulty’s shot wide. He also saved well from Donaldson in stoppage time.

Even if either effort had beaten the Sons keeper, no-one could deny the visitors their win. Dumbarton, for the second visit to Almondvale in a row, fully deserved the three points.

They could now be in a promotion play-off position come full-time against Alloa on Saturday, with more than a third of the season gone. It sounds incredible – but it’s true.

Teams and officials

Livingston: Walker; Talbot, Donaldson, Fordyce, Jacobs, O’Brien, McDonald, Scott (Mullen 76), Scougall, McNulty, Barrowman (Wilkie 87). Subs: Jamieson, Beaumont, Downie, Praprotnik, Rutherford. Booked: McNulty, Scott.

Dumbarton: Ewings; McGinn, Graham, Barry, Linton, H Murray (Agnew 55), Turner, Gilhaney (McDougall 79), Kirkpatrick, Megginson, Nish (Prunty 66). Subs: Grindlay, Phinn, K Smith. Booked: H Murray, Barry, Turner.

Referee: Stephen Finnie.

Dumbarton Terrace man of the match: Paul McGinn – different class in both defence and attack.