Jan Vojáček

That was a really odd game. And the ending was grimly predictable. So much so, that it provoked virtually no anger. Just everyone streaming for the exits and a few sighs of 'f**k's sake'. It was weirdly, mainly, because of East Fife. For the first 20 minutes and last 15 or so they were superb. They penned us in, dominated the midfield and should've added to their three goals. In fact they should've been 3-0 ahead inside 15 minutes, with Nathan Austin somehow hitting the post from about two yards and Stuart Murdoch almost catching out the very shaky looking Jay Hogarth from long range. With the ball hitting the bar. After that start, they dropped out of the game. And we really should've been level before half-time when Finlay Gray missed a sitter. With the wind at our backs we started the second-half very well. Both goals were really decent. The first working the ball out to the left, a good pass by Tony Wallace and a terrific finish from Finlay Gray. The second saw Michael Ruth finally get a reward for all the chasing of balls punted into the channels. Robbing Brian Easton and teeing up Jinky Hilton (via a lovely Gray dummy) to stroke in. Then we crumble almost immediately. Conceding from a corner. Which has been an Achilles Heel all season. It looked like Jay Hogarth should've done a lot better too, but I'm not sure if he had bodies in the way. From that goal until about 10 minutes from time I was very comfortable it was ending 2-2. Both sides looked quite content with that. But then East Fife went for it, Hogarth had the bar to thank for bailing him out after another awkward save. And made a decent rebound save after spilling a long range Jack Healy shot. Before making one of the weirdest attempts to save a header I've ever seen. Resulting in Nathan Austin's winning goal. I'm not sure if it was the wind, a deflection or just a howler. But I thought the header was his all the way. Right up until the moment it hit the net. We could've crumbled after going behind early. And I thought we were miles off it early on. But the players did show a bit of fight in the second-half. Mark Durnan being back made a difference and I thought he played well. It was also the best game I think Jinky Hilton has had for us, maybe excepting the Forfar match. He was skilful, used the ball well, took his goal well and worked hard for the cause. Michael Ruth was Michael Ruth. Tony Wallace was Tony Wallace. Despite his goal, I didn't think Finlay Gray played all that well. Especially when it came to using the ball. Cian Newbury likewise did some things that were very good, and some things that saw him getting overrun. Aaron Healy showed about five minutes of promise after our goals, and was then hooked. By far and away our biggest issue however is the defence. Nathan Austin started playing off Mark Durnan, and didn't get a great deal of joy. It was just two big strong boys giving as good as they for. Then he targeted Gallagher Lennon. And ragdolled him for the whole of the second-half. Lennon is just not ready for this level of football yet; and it can't be doing him any good getting roasted constantly. His confidence must be in tatters. Left-back is obviously a major issue too. As we all know. And I don't have a clue what we do there. Blair Malcolm was at fault for the opening goal and got roasted a few times. Ryan Blair isn't very good there at all, but he seems like our only passable option. And that's bloody terrifying. Fourth place is still very much in our hands. Eight games remaining and all we have to do is make sure that East Fife don't win two more than us is a challenge most teams should be confident in overcoming. But we really are a rabble at times defensively, and I've no faith at all in this squad to play sensibly and string together a five or six game run of positive results. We've won four games since Brett Long broke his ankle in the first week of December. That's harrowing. I know we all knew Brett was excellent, but I don't think we maybe appreciated just how vital he was at papering over defensive cracks.

Did we release Scott Lambie as a kid or something? Anyway. East Fife should've been 3-0 up before we started by playing. But since eventually finding our feet there's not been a lot in it. Finlay's chance looked an absolute sitter. East Fife would be smart to just keep playing down our left and nowhere else in the second-half. Malcolm is on a ridiculously soft booking which Lambie will turn into a red at the first given opportunity and Lennon is a lost lamb.

Turns out he's as bad as everyone else there...

I'm afraid he's just signed for Thorniewood United alongside Ross Forbes. In other news, I have a new job as the Director of Football at a West of Scotland League side...

Think we might be seeing the reason why there was no heartfelt tribute on the website...

That's the guy! Hang on, I've just seen our match preview. No Sean Crighton tomorrow. Oh Jesus. So we're going into this game with one natural centre-half? 18-year-old Gallagher Lennon, who has looked out of his depth since signing. Or with Mark Durnan, who hasn't played since October having to play for a full 90 minutes. Praying Durnan is something close to being match ready. If he is, then I'd start him and Newbury together. And Blair Malcolm at left-back. If he's not? Well I've no idea really. Lennon and Newbury? Two centre-halves with a combined aged of 36 would be a giggle.

Ironically his ability to send off players wearing a Sons shirt is probably at the bottom of my list of worries for this. So maybe it's a good time to get him. I had hoped we'd never get see him again after the relegation season where we have six players sent off in the league all season. And he sent off five of them. In two games. In fact he's sent off 6 Dumbarton players in 6 games. So if I was a betting man I'd be lumping on at least one red card tomorrow. Given we haven't seen him since early 2022 I had kind of hoped he'd been fast-tracked to the big leagues, but obviously not. Maybe he'll even things out, reduce East Fife to 8 men in the first-half and we can get up the road with a 1-0 win and our playoff place secure

I remember hearing a story that he threatened to "deck" another individual involved with the club during a particularly heated exchange As you say, I'm sorry to hear of his passing for his family. I'm sure he was a different man away from business. But he wasn't someone who made many friends in his time at DFC I think it would be fair to say.

He started on the left of a back three against Banks o'Dee, fell on his arse and gifted them a goal. But (leafing through my wee teamsheet notes) I think that's the only game he's started for us in defence this season. Sure he moved there for a bit against Rangers as well when Blair was toiling mind you. I remember finding it weird when we signed Shiels and started the season with four left-backs in our squad (Young, Wylde, Malcolm, Shiels). Yet here we are playing a central midfielder there. And there doesn't seem to be a half decent option in the squad.

Losing Durnan in October, Long in December and Shiels in January has just been a serious of really major blows. Greig Young too looked a class act early in the season; especially in that game at Ochilview. It doesn't absolve Faz of blame. But I do feel for him with regards to the injuries/departures. Losing three of the best players in the league (all defensive players too) across a four month period is something most teams would struggle to deal with. I'd guess that Long and Durnan will be two of our best paid too. Our defence looked like it was (at least) three players short of being remotely competent going by those highlights. Is there a reason Blair Malcolm hasn't played at left-back yet that I'm forgetting? I think we all expected him to be our LB at the start of the season. God knows he has his flaws (namely his inability to pass to a teammate) but he's an excellent tackler and would surely be a better option than Lennon or Blair in that position? Especially given Newbury looks far better in defensive midfield than either Blair or Malcolm.

Anyone who has ever had anything to do with a live broadcast at a lower league club can relate to every sentence of that. It's a minefield, especially when you've got a small number of volunteers who are already working flat out. We had constant issues with Pixellot when I was on the stream and you just feel helpless at times; especially because you know how frustrating it is trying to watch a game where it keeps breaking down. Really appreciate the effort that went into streaming it last night, and the second-half was absolutely fine (streaming wise, not football wise...). Couldn't really disagree with a word of Brian's commentary either. I only missed the second goal too. Which was unfortunate. I'd have far rather have missed the entire first-half than managed to catch three goals

I agree with all of this. I would also say this is the lowest point for the club, arguably, since 2007-08 when we just avoided being club 42.

Brian Martin. Let me assure you, you are not the only man staggered that Ruth has been kept on for 90 minutes here.

Ruth and Newbury playing 90 minutes is not a good idea.

He started three games last season, so I wouldn't read too much into that. He did score four in 12 for a dreadful Falkirk as an 18-year-old in League One.

He's our best player by a mile and just about the only guy in this squad who is capable of stepping up to full-time football. There's not a chance he'll be playing in League Two next season. And you can quote me on that when he's leading the line for us in League One

There are times where covering Sons as part of my job is great. And there are times where I miss the freedom of my previous life

I'd have hooked Ruth and Newbury at half time to protect them for Saturday tbh. I've got serious fear about Ruth getting injured.

Aye

Get Durnan and Cal Wilson on for some minutes in the legs at half-time. At least get something out of this.

I'm extremely proud of the willpower I showed to avoid the eight hour round trip to this on a weeknight. What a goal that was btw. Absolutely honking defending. But that goal was superb.

Aye, same here. Hope it's sorted for our second-half goal avalanche. Don't want to miss that.

I've only managed to see about three minutes of this game. And it's 90% players being booked.

Ones a centre-mid to be fair. If that makes you feel any better? My stream is away again.

The stream lives!