Peterhead take on Dumbarton at Balmoor in their third Premier Sports Cup Group game with Blue Toon manager Jim McInally admitting that it is not just the Sons that are on his mind.
Defeats from Aberdeen and Raith Rovers have seen Peterhead’s chances of qualifying to the knockout stages end, and manager McInally is now out to ensure that his team hit the ground running when League 1 starts against the Diamonds in a fortnight.
Jim said: “We went into this cup as a work in progress and we knew that not everything would be knitted together. Losing Andrew McCarthy, the week before the games started, and then Hamish Ritchie in the first game hurt us, and we will not progress. However, there is a lot at stake in the remaining ties against Dumbarton and Stirling Albion.”
“Some of the boys might be feeling a bit sorry for themselves after the Raith game in midweek however they need to shrug that off. We will have a few boys back by the time we play Airdrieonians, but there are other starting places available, and the players have to use these games to prove that they should have one of them.”
“For some of our new boys this is there first run at senior football and they have a chance to show, starting against Dumbarton, that they aim to be starting for us and not just be a bit-part player. Dumbarton will be a tough game, especially as they will see this as a winnable tie, however we have to go out and show that we are going to be ready for Airdrie in the league.”
The last time the sides met was back in April in a 1-1 draw and of the 11 players that started for Peterhead that day, none will be involved this time out, with Jim adding: “Eight of that team have moved on and two, Andrew McCarthy and Russell McLean, are injured with Jason Brown suspended. That tells me two things -one- the size of the rebuilding job we are on and -two- the quality of player we have to come back in. When you add Ryan Strachan to that mix as he will be available in weeks rather than months then that confirms we are going to get stronger. What I want to see against Dumbarton is players ensuring that they are up for being in the starting XI as well.”
Team News
On-loan Dundee United goalkeeper Jack Newtown is available again however injuries continue to rule out the experienced group of Ryan Strachan, Andrew McCarthy, Hamish Ritchie and Russell McLean with Jason Brown serving the last game of his three-match suspension.
Match programme – https://issuu.com/peterheadfc/docs/_02_dumbarton_16.07.22
Watching the game – https://www.peterheadfc.org/video//
