RANGERS. This season’s Dundee.
The team against whom, whatever Dumbarton try, they just don’t seem to get the breaks.
Even the results in this season’s three meetings against the Ibrox club have been the same as the opening three against Dundee in 2013/14 – 1-4, 0-3, 0-1.
In parts of the first two of those fixtures, Sons have been outclassed. But yesterday, despite the Gers’ Kris Boyd scoring the only goal of the game, it was different.
Dumbarton were lively, creative and incisive going forward, and for most of the afternoon, solid at the back. Just about every aspect of the game was there.
Except one.
For the fourth time in the last five games, Sons couldn’t put the ball in the net when chances presented themselves.
They deserved at least another crack at Rangers, which would have taken place at Ibrox next Saturday at the expense of the Championship trip to Queen of the South.
But performances don’t win games. Goals do. And as much as Sons were improved on last week’s 3-0 league reverse against the Ibrox side, the ball needs to be hitting the net.
The league is now the sole focus of their season. Their Scottish Cup campaign, which lasted over four months last season, is over after 90 minutes this time around.
And back on Championship business, starting at Dumfries next Saturday, the shooting boots have to be on. It’s literally the only aspect missing from this fine performance which deserved more than it got.
Against the same opposition who beat them fairly and squarely seven days earlier, Sons were the better side for much of the first half.
Mitch Megginson had an early 15-yard shot which was turned round the post by the visiting keeper. Then Colin Nish beat Lee Wallace to a loose ball only for his effort to go over.
It took 37 minutes for Rangers to force their first serious opening, with Ricky Foster dragging a low shot wide from 20 yards after cutting inside.
The same player’s shot was diverted into the net by Boyd four minutes from half time, but the offside flag was up. Then Mark Gilhaney found space on the edge of the area, but his shot rolled through to the keeper.
Half time loomed with the scores level – and then, with the last kick of the half, it happened.
Lewis MacLeod’s through ball into the area was met by Boyd, whose low shot found the net, going in off the post.
Sons boss Ian Murray would have been getting ready to tell his team to keep doing what they were doing. Now they had to find a goal from somewhere.
But Boyd nearly had his second five minutes after the restart after a mix-up in midfield. Fortunately, after the striker ran in on goal, Jamie Ewings came out to block his effort.
Ewings was in goal as Danny Rogers was not allowed to play due to the terms of his loan from Aberdeen. That save was a real statement.
Rangers did force the clearer chances in the early second half but struggled to seriously test Ewings. MacLeod was at the centre of most of the action, but his shot from the edge of area went past after he cut inside.
Then midway through the second half, he had another go from the corner of the area but the keeper saved comfortably.
With 14 minutes to go came another opportunity for Sons. Andy Graham – whose participation was in doubt before the game due to a knock – got his head to Scott Agnew’s free kick in a crowded area.
Keeper Lee Robinson beat away his header at point blank range, with Rangers scrambling clear.
That was a telling sign, as was Garry Fleming’s effort which went just the wrong side of the post minutes later. Maybe Sons’ luck was just out.
With two minutes to go, Gers substitute Jon Daly could have killed Sons off after meeting MacLeod’s through ball, but blasted his effort over.
There was another half chance for Sons in the dying stages, but Agnew’s shot was blocked at close range.
And that was it. All Dumbarton had for their excellent efforts was the applause of the fans and the finalised knowledge that they will travel to Dumfries, and not Govan, next Saturday.
That trip has the potential to be a success – but only if one missing aspect can be brought to the table.
Sons have scored one goal in their last five matches – an ultimately academic effort from Fleming at Hearts.
Their performance yesterday deserved to end that run. They’ll just have to do it at Palmerston instead.
Dumbarton: Ewings; Linton (Van Zanten 84), Graham, Mair, Gilhaney, Agnew, Megginson (McDougall 81), Fleming, McLaughlin, Campbell (Turner 70). Subs: Grindlay; McCallum, Lightbody, Whitefield.
Rangers: Robinson; Smith, Wallace, McCulloch, Law, Black, MacLeod, Boyd (Daly 75), Miller, Foster, McGregor. Subs: McCrorie; Mohsni, Templeton, Clark, Faure, Shiels. Booked: McGregor, Foster.
Referee: Bobby Madden.
Crowd: 1,878.
The Dumbarton Terrace 