BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
Dumbarton defender Mark Docherty knows what it takes to prevail in a relegation dogfight – and he is adamant the stuttering Sons will soon turn their season around.
A narrow 2-1 defeat against Morton last weekend – their fifth loss in six matches – saw Stevie Aitken’s men slip into the drop zone for the first time this campaign.
After a summer of upheaval, which saw the new boss bring in 16 new signings, they have not registered a Championship victory since October 3.
Nevertheless, Docherty, who was a survival specialist with former club Alloa insists Dumbarton have the experience and quality to surge up the table.
Ahead of this afternoon’s trip to Queen of the South, said: “We’re in a tough spell, and haven’t defended well enough in some matches, however there is no way we deserved to lose against Morton last week.
“There were signs of improvement and it’s about building on that and sticking together. I’m confident we have the squad to turn things around – there’s no negativity.
“I’ve been at the top end of the league and I’ve scrapped at the bottom with Alloa, and I know that when you are at the wrong end of the table things just don’t go for you and you don’t get the breaks that the sides at the top get.
“But we have the experience to know that, lads like Darren Barr and Mark Brown, and there’s no panic. Obviously the bottom two isn’t a place we want to be in but the league is s tight that a couple of wins could get us up to fifth or sixth.
“When we get one win I’m sure more will come.”
Meanwhile, Queen of the South boss James Fowler has urged his players to give the Palmerston Park faithful something to shout about this season.
Fowler said: “I would love to say we’re coming back to “Fortress Palmerston” but it hasn’t been the case this season.
“We will be looking to kick on from our win last week and get back to team fearing coming to Palmerston Park. We had a great record here last season and that will come again with more consistent performances.
“It’s been quiet in the stadium, maybe because of the expectation from last season, but hopefully we can give the crowd something to shout about and get things a bit a noisier.”
