"Our goalkeeper stopped it being 10" admits Dumbarton boss after Annan loss

Stevie Farrell admitted his Sons side could’ve shipped 10 goals in a nightmare first-half against Annan Athletic.

Goalkeeper Brett Long performed heroics to keep the half-time scoreline to 3-0, pulling off a string of superb stops - including three from one-on-one situations.

An improved second-half showing saw David Wilson’s superb free-kick pull a goal back for the faltering Sons, who are now winless in five.

And boss Farrell pulled no punches after another below par performance.

He said: “The game should’ve probably finished 10-3. We’ve had two chances in the first-half that we should score, but they’ve had six or seven in the first-half alone.

“In the second-half our shape was better when we made the substitutions. But it’s easy at that point. The game is done.

“3-1 flattered us after the first-half.

“At half-time we said that we had Brett to thank for keeping us in it.

“We had to change the shape because of the personnel we had available to us. And every time we’ve had to change the shape with this group of players we’ve been poor.

“We’ve spoken about the difference in where we’ve been and where we are now.

“You don’t keep 13 clean sheets in a season without being a good defensive unit. But we need to get back to that now.”

Farrell has now challenged his side to rediscover their winning form - and push for promotion back to League One at the first time of asking, starting with tonight (Tuesday’s) visit of table topping Stirling Albion.

He continued: “We have a hell of a chance of promotion. I defy anyone to say otherwise. But the penny has got to drop with the players after Saturday.

“The players should be fired up for Tuesday to prove a point.

“We saw the difference between the sides on Saturday. Stirling have