Thursday, 15 August 2013

Accies v Dumbarton - SPFL Championship - Saturday 17th August 2013

This Saturday, Accies host Dumbarton for the first home match of the season and our first competitive match on the new artificial surface at NDP. After last week's excellent away victory against Raith Rovers there is bound to be some confidence and optimism amongst the players, management team and the fans. The big question is whether the promise shown in the last two victories can continue. According to the OS, the injuries to Longridge and Routledge will keep both on the sidelines for a few more weeks. That should mean the only change to the starting eleven will be the return of our captain, Martin Canning to the heart of the defence alongside Mikey Devlin. The dominant performance of Alex Neil last week must leave our manager no choice but to pick himself to start again this week. Last season Dumbarton showed they were capable of virtually anything - good & bad! However there's no doubt they are a much more capable outfit under the stewardship of Ian Murray. They managed to grab a late equaliser last week to earn a good point at home to Falkirk and I believe they will be no pushovers. It's still very early in the season to identify the form sides, however if we are aspiring to achieve a top four finish then this match is the type of game that we really need to be winning. I'm looking forward to an open, entertaining game with a narrow victory for Accies.
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6 comments:

  1. Unknown15 August 2013 at 17:03

    "However there's no doubt they are a much more capable outfit under the stewardship of Ian Murray." Agreed and he has had a full close season to shape the squad to his way of working so in theory they should be stronger but as you say its far too soon to id the form teams. I would fully expect to win this one at home and on our new pitch. Had you said before last weeks game that we would be without Longridge and Routledge I would have feared the worst but far from it so no excuses. As an aside, I notice that the Son's local paper the Lennox Herald has done an 8 page special on the club including full team photo for the new season. I must have missed the same for Accies in the Advertiser!

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  2. Kenneth Fee17 August 2013 at 10:49

    The first home game of the season finally arrives, and I can't wait to see how the new surface plays. Good results in games so far suggest there should be an air of confidence about this one. Our big problem position remains striker, but if rumours are true re the signing of Mickael Antoine-Curier, that would be a welcome boost (and the end to any lingering hope of the return of Stevie May, who now looks a key figure in St Johnstone's plans). Tough opponents today, but every prospect of a good performance and result.

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  3. Kenneth Fee17 August 2013 at 19:31

    Well, that was certainly a good performance and a good result. More than that, it was an empathic victory, and if not a vintage display, it at least propelled us to the top of the table. Our penalty was soft, I thought, but it set us on the road, and after that there was only ever going to be one winner. Keatings' and Accies' second was a well-worked goal, surprisingly set up by a run and cross from McShane. GG willed his goal over the line, and Andreu showed neat skill with both feet and excellent finishing. In between, Dumbarton briefly troubled us with a penalty reducing the deficit to 1-2 following a shirt pull by Canning. The rash of yellow cards did not reflect the game but rather a weak refereeing performance. Keatings apparently was ill at half time, hence his early withdrawal - hopefully he recovers quickly, and we an add more firepower before the window closes. Meanwhile, much to be positive about.

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  4. Kenneth Fee17 August 2013 at 21:04

    Top of the League!

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  5. Unknown18 August 2013 at 10:35

    Surprised there wasn't a sending off the way the ref was handing out yellow cards. I thought alex's was undeserved but he bit his tongue. Overall a very pleasing performance. We keep improving bit by bit. Alex is on top form and the summer signings look good

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  6. Kenneth Fee18 August 2013 at 11:25

    "empathic victory" should read "emphatic victory, of course!

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