Dumbarton gaffer Stevie Farrell has hit back at those predicting his side would “crash and burn” after their first league defeat.
Having won their first seven games for the first time in the club’s history, Farrell’s men lost in the league for the first time against Stranraer on September 20 – leaving them 11 days to stew on the result.
However an improved performance saw the Sons take a point against Forfar on Saturday, with boss Farrell insisting Sons are in good shape as they face a top of the table clash with Stirling Albion this weekend.
The Binos have closed the gap at the top of League Two to just five points after three straight wins, but Farrell insists the game is no bigger than any other this season.
He said: “After seven wins there will have been people who said it would’ve all crashed and burned after we lost one, but we don’t believe that. We know that we’re a good side.
“We’re a hard team to break down and beat.
“Every game we have is a big game. But we’re nine games into the season. We have another 26 big games after the Stirling one.
“To have 22 points and one defeat from the first quarter is a brilliant start. I’m delighted with that, but I’m certainly not getting carried away.
“I said to the players that we’ve only played nine games. But we’re five points clear at the top of the league, and to have five clean sheets in nine games is extremely pleasing.
“There were a lot of positives on Saturday. We were just unlucky not to get a goal.”
With other clubs in League Two adding eye catching deadline day additions, Farrell revealed that he wasn’t tempted into any new signings– because he has full belief in his squad. The boss continued: “I’m really happy with the squad. Other teams went out to add players but we didn’t need to.
“I’ve got as good a squad as anyone in the division. So far that’s proven to be the case.
“We have to keep trusting and believing in each other.
“There’s a real desire and togetherness in this squad, and a real lack of egos.”
And he explained why top scorer Declan Byrne was an unused sub – despite the Sons pushing hard for a late leveller.
Faz added: “Declan has been nursing a wee knock to his knee but it was a tactical decision to keep him on the bench.
“We wanted to give him a wee rest. He’s played a lot of football and for front players sometimes a week or two out can help them come back refreshed.
“You have to work the squad, and we’re lucky that we can rotate the front end of the squad.
“John Gemmell came on and made a real difference and Michael Garrity is a real player.
“We need to be careful with him because he played midweek for Morton but he had a very positive impact when he came on.”
Kick off at Forthbank on Saturday is 3pm.