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Deleted Account #151676
#75257 Rick's Career
Our poor run was extended to five consecutive defeats this month which had the supporters sweating as to whether we would be drawn into a relegation battle with just eleven games remaining, however a fortuitous win over bottom club Airdrie and a stellar performance against Dunfermline will have done much to ease their fears for now, although our Division one status is still far from safe.
We were unlucky to miss out on a point against Hamilton, Matin McNiff's 88th minute equaliser looked to have shared the spoils and ended our losing streak, unforutunaetly Academical striker Martin Canning had other ideas, bundling home deep into stoppage time to condemn us to defeat.
There was similar bad luck against Morton, the visitors snatched the points courtesy of a dubious penalty and an own goal, but when your lucks out why expect any different?
We gave Falkirk a good run for their money but our perennial problem of putting the ball in the net once again cost us as Falkirk walked away with a narrow victory.
We knew that bottom side Airdrie who's relegation to division two looks all but certain now would be the best chance we had of breaking this terrible run of five defeats on the bounce, thankfully we were able to do that, albeit thanks to an own goal from Airdrie's Michael Hart.
Next up was Dunfermline who we had already locked horns with three times this season with two defeats and one win against the Pars, Lady luck smiled upon us as Jim Lister scored his first goal since October in the 90th minute to really begin to relive the pressure on us.
There is only three games next month so we have time to rest and be fully prepared for each, meaning we could be all but safe by the start of March if we could win all three games, beating struggler's Cowdenbeath and Raith is certainly the minimum requirement I am asking from my players, although Raith are the only team in the division we are yet to beat this season. A point against Partick Thistle would also be nice but a win is probably too much to ask at the moment.
Thanks mate, keep reading.
#75115 The Night Thread Mk. IX
Yeah that's getting old, lets do some Kraut bashing instead.
Two world wars and one world cup, doh-dah, doh dah....
#74799 Is there a definitive best tactic?
#74791 Please delete
#74686 Rick's Career
#74678 Rick's Career
#74604 Rick's Career
We finished 2012 in a Jekyl and Hyde fashion, three wins and three defeats which has seen us enter the new year still nestled fairly comfortably in mid-table.
I was absolutely furious with my team for allowing themselves to be eliminated from the Scottish cup by lowly Berwick Rangers, the hair drier was on full power afterwards to let my team know just how much they had let me and the fans down, our misery was compounded by the fact that we would have faced Falkirk in the fifth round, a side we have taken points from in both meetings this season so we would have had a real chance of reaching the quarter finals, and once you reach that stage who know what might happen?
My players responded to the bollocking they got after the Berwick humiliation with a much improved performance against the divisions bottom side Cowdenbeath, Gary Fleming scoring his first goal since August to set us on the right track with just five minutes gone, defender Martin McNiff who has really shone for us so far this season added the second towards the end of the first half.
Next up was another struggling side in the form of Airdrie United, against whom we just about did enough to come away with the points thanks to midfielder Ryan Metcalf.
I wasn't expecting the win over league leaders Partick Thistle, but a tremendous performance, capped by Ryan Prunty's late winner, avenged Partick's own 1-0 win over us at the end of September to send us forth.
After that result against arguably the best side in the league, you may have been forgiven for expecting us to take something from under performing Raith Rovers, however we started like a lead balloon, finding ourselves 3-0 down inside twenty minutes due to some lacklustre marking from set pieces, Greig Spence was deadly in front of goal, scoring the first two goals, he has become the latest addition to my short list of players for when I eventually move to a bigger side.
A second consecutive defeat to Livingston saw us slide down to sixth, we weren't as bad as in the previous game but we certainly didn't reach the performance levels I have come to expect in recent months, in the end we were punished by an 88th minute strike Kevin Kerr which was harsh as I think we at least deserved draw from the game.
We have another award recipient to take pride in this month...
A well deserved award for the young defender who has been our rock at the back.
January sees us take on Hamilton, Morton and Airdrie, all of which are winnable games in my eyes, there are also tougher games against Dunfermline and Falkirk, although we have already shown we can beat both of those sides this season.
Thank you, to be honest I can't see me winning silverware with Dumbarton, avoiding relegation is the main achievement to be had with them whilst I wait for one of the bigger sides in the division to part with their manager, I quietly have my fingers crossed for Falkirk or Partick Thistle.
#74553 English Premier League 2012/2013
#74533 FA Cup Thread 2012/13
#74473 Rick's Career
November was fantastic month for us as we climbed out of the danger zone and into mid-table which is exactly where I aim to help the Sons wind up come the end of the season.
With the win over Hamilton at the end of October my side put together a run of five games unbeaten in all competitions which has given us a real shot in the arm and boosted our survival hopes dramatically although we are still a long way from safety yet.
Advancing in the FA cup will also do us the world of good, the prize money goes a long way at this level, and with third division struggler's Berwick next up I fancy our chances of clearing a few more hurdles in the competition.
Complacency could easily have tripped us up in the third round game with Montrose as we allowed the third division club far to much time on the ball and let them create some good chances which on another day could have cost us, thankfully this was not that day as right back Andy Graham's first goal for the club was just about enough to see us through to a fourth round tie with Berwick.
With Livingston just a single point above us in the league we knew we would climb out of the relegation places at their expense should we win, Bryan Prunty's 50th minute strike ensured victory much to my delight.
I was hoping we would follow up with another win against Greenock Morton who we beat 3-1 in September for my first league victory with Dumbarton, however after conceding with less than a minute on the clock things looked to be going a pear shaped, a Jamie Longworth screamer just before half time restored parity to ease our nerves although we were unable to capitalise on the momentum shift to grab a winner.
A wonderful hat trick from winger Steven McDougall ensured a fantastic win over Falkirk who not that long ago were an SPL side, the wingers match ball winning performance was complimented by a Chris Turner spot kick to ensure a memorable victory against one of the title favourites.
Finally came the visit to Dunfermline who we had already faced twice this season with one win a piece, today however was to be the Pars's day, we didn't play badly, however we were undone by the class of their winger Joe Cardle who scored both goals as he routinely drifted in from his wide position, causing my defence no end of headaches. He certainly looks cut out for the SPL and will be going on my short list for the future.
The Dunfermline result aside, November has been a great month in which we have exhibited some quality football, exactly the kind of play that will keep us in the division, with all this renewed energy and confidence within the camp we are now looking up rather than beneath us for the first time, although we have to keep our feet on the ground, a couple of bad results and we could be in a very different situation.
#74430 FA Cup Thread 2012/13
#74419 FA Cup Thread 2012/13
#74392 English Premier League 2012/2013
Clearly he has his heart set on a move to Walsall.
#74384 English Premier League 2012/2013
#74374 English Premier League 2012/2013
#74368 English Premier League 2012/2013
#74360 English Premier League 2012/2013
Lichaj was bloody close then.
#74357 English Premier League 2012/2013
#74352 English Premier League 2012/2013
#74344 English Premier League 2012/2013
#74340 English Premier League 2012/2013
#74262 FA Cup Thread 2012/13
#74261 The Lower League Thread
#74217 Rick's Career
Just the three games this month which has helped relive some of the nagging injuries within the squad, we've taken four points from those three games which has kept us very much in the fight for survival, in fact with a good run next month we could even go top! I can't see that happening though.
We earned an excellent point with Cowdenbeath, ordinarily I would have seen it as two points dropped but as we showed some real fight and determination to come from 2-0 down I'm more than happy to take the one.
I was disappointed not to get anything against Raith, we again came from behind and took the ascendency, however we got over confident and allowed Raith the opportunity to snatch the win late on.
With no win in five games I wasn't looking forward to the visit of Hamilton who have already pumped us twice this season, however I had learned my lessons from the previous games and adjusted to a 5-4-1 formation which worked a treat, albeit with a lot of help from our twelfth man...the referee. we received two penalty's in the first half which Chris Turner duly tucked away. Academical threatened a come back but a brace from player of the month Jim Lister.
Next up is a FA cup game with division three side Montrose, it would be nice to have a decent run in the cup and collect some prize money as the club has slipped into the red this month despite me not having brought anyone in which is a bit annoying to say the least.
Thanks mate.
#74185 Manchester is RED
#74184 Welcome to Goodison Park
#74164 Rick's Career
September brought about a much needed improvement in form with us collecting seven points from our five games, briefly taking us all the way up to fifth before defeats brought us crashing back down again.
We kicked off the month with a credible draw with Falkirk to move out off the relegation places before following up with an excellent performance against Greenock Morton, my 'V' shaped 4-5-1 really exploited their weak full backs.
Beating top of the table Dunfurmline was a real achievement as we continued our revival, particularly as it avenged them knocking us out the League cup just a few weeks before, again I swapped formation to counter theirs, Dunfumline lined up with the same 4-5-1 that had been so effective for us in the previous game, I countered their wingers by setting up a 5-3-2 system with the wingbacks having to do a lot of running, it was a good change though as we routinely caught them on the counter whilst remaining solid at the back to protect out 12th minute advantage.
After the previous results I could have been accused of a spot of complacency tactically when to facing bottom club Airdrie and perhaps overcomplicating things, I reverted to 4-5-1 as Airdrie were using a midfield diamond which made them very vulnerable down the flanks and given our improved form we may have expected several goals, unfortunalty the home side snatched an early lead before shutting up shop as we struggled to break down their surprisingly effective diamond shape, we were handed a golden opportunity midway through the second half when the referee pointed to the spot for a foul on Stephen McDougall, however Chris Turner's shot was saved, causing heads to drop as our run came to an end.
I couldn't have many complaints with the result at Partick Thistle, despite a late resurgence from ourselves the Jags controlled much of the game and deserved their win.
Although we are back to ninth again, their is much encouragement to be taken from this month, I now know the level of football my players are capable of reaching, and I will be demanding that the maintain that level for the next six months, if they do then I do not believe we ought to fear the spectre of relegation too much.
I've now surpassed the 100 days mark as Dumbarton manager, Sir Alex only held his post at East Stirlingshire for 117 days so towards the end of next month I shall start keeping a prying eye on the bigger clubs in this division to see if any of their managers are shown the door, with the exceptions of Morton, Cowdenbeath and Airdrie I think any of the other clubs in this division could quickly be turned into promotion contenders.
In other news the draw for the FA cup has been made, we will face either Highlands League side Forres Mechanics or division three outft Montrose at home.
Also, one of our players was honoured in the monthly awards...
Well deserved recognition for a very dependable full back.
#74140 Welcome to Goodison Park
He did alight with Villa tbf, qualified for the Europa League, reached the Carling cup final and a FA cup semi as well as finishing 6th three times in a row which is pretty good for a club like them.
#74118 Manchester is RED
#74116 Welcome to Goodison Park
Prehaps, I suppose his spell at Sunderland would count against him as well.
The BBC website is linking Malky Mackay with the job, I can see Cardiff doing quite well in the Premiership next season so I'm not sure if he will be prised away too easily.