An interesting game this could be. Shire got a decent win at Forfar last week, and we have selection decisions with regards to the defence.

Gary Wilson's dismissal at Stenny last week makes it very easy for Chapman to bring in Dunlop at left-back, and I hope he does.

I don't think we need to change much else, as we are doing quite well at the moment.

It's a game we really should be looking to win, to keep up the pace.

I'd be playing a standard 4-4-2 formation, as we have done for the majority of the season so far.

McGeown
Dunlop, O'Byrne, Gordon, Lennon
Carcary, Clark, Geggan, Murray
Keegan, McLeod

Would you not prefer wee Craig to come back from Beith and for Dunlop maybe to get a run out for the last 10-15 mins? Dunlop has been out for months and will not be match fit and a plastic pitch is not the best place to play your first full 1st team game since being injured.

I know lots of people will be wanting Craigie to be re-called, but I really don't think it would be worth it for one game.

I think that when Dunlop is fully fit he will be the first choice left-back (and I agree), as he will offer the most going forward, and it also a very good defender by all accounts.

You would think that Wilsons fairly inconsistant performances tying in with his demostrated indiscipline would put him behind Craig in the pecking order and it will probably take 3 or 4 weeks before Dunlop is ready for 90 minute appearances so it would not just be 1 game.

Like most Dumbarton managers of past, Chapman wants the team to be "his" and clearly shows preference to his signings ahead of players he has inherinted.

Don't get me wrong he is doing very well, but this is my observation as is my observation that Craig is a better LB than Wilson, couldnt comment on Dunlop as not seen him play.

I'd like it if Craigie was recalled too, but my head rules my heart. I don't think we'll see Craigie being recalled unless there's a crisis. Methinks Chappie is moulding the team his way and I fear that wee Craigie will be away for a good while. Unless, as I said, there's a crisis.

I think he might even put Geggan to left back an bring Canning into midfield!

Craig will be fully match fit unlike Dunlop who hasnt played for ages, but a question that must be asked is how will Dunlop get match fit if he doesnt get games? I would still prefer Brittain to be recalled into the team as in my opinion its the best option.

...and as for craigie not offering much going forward i believe he had a good opportunity to score on saturday for beith...just read the record from yesterday (monday)

Agree that bringing back Brittain would be the best decision for this one. One thing Craigy gives you is consistency and I would rather have that than risk a half fit Dunlop. Ideally I would have Brittain at LB to start and replace him with Dunlop later in the game to give him a run out and build his fitness for when he hopefully replaces Wilson.

One pleasing aspect of this is that it shows the depth we now have to our squad.

Will be interesting to see how Chapman views it.

Very much doubt Brittain will be back for this one but would like to be proven wrong, as Jordo says Craig gives us consistency and would be welcomed back into the team on the other hand Dunlop is going to be a big player for us in the coming months so he could start but would prefer him to have a few bounce games before he comes into the reckoning.

The fact that Shakey doesnt like Brittain may sway his decision

What the legend that is Craigy Brittain?? How can you fail to not like him?

Shame on Shakey!!

he's not saying he doesn't like him he's being sensible and realizing craigy may be getting past it. don't get me wrong i think he's a great wee player but i also feel wilson's height has been an advantage this season. i would like to see brittain get a run out in a sons strip before the season is over but not on saturday.

i think i'd go with geggan at left back and maybe bring canning into midfield. geggan looked good there on saturday so i don't think i'd bother risking dunlop, maybe give him 15 minutes towards the end.

Mon the Shire!

You mean sitting on the fence as normal

I think wilson has been panned and this has been unwarranted most of the time as the big man has done okay it is just that he is not an out and out ball player and he seems to get used as an outlet a lot.

I think bringing Canning into midfield would be a big mistake as he is definately not match fit and this has shown when he has came on, dont get me wrong I like him as a player but we need to get him fit as mistakes can be costly as was displayed in the last game against East Stirling and we need to get points from all games.

For me Keep geggs where he is after all he was MOM on Sat and either bring back Craigy or risk Dunlop in there, only one person knows what he is going to do and that is Chappy and it is a big decision for him!!!!

did he just say that

did he just say that

He was MOM on saturday but he played about 75 mins of that game at left back did he not?

Yes. Yes he did.

I agree with NAC, Canning in midfield and Geggan to left back. SOns need to win to keep pressure on Stenny and especially since they have a tough game at Cowden. We could go top if everything goes well.

Brittain is a very good left back, and solid and consistent defensively. I agree on that. I just feel he offers too little going forward tbh. Therefore playing him at left-back would take away from the good attacking work Carcary/Murray do, as they would need to get back and defend more.



Not once did I say that. I merely gave my opinion that I feel Dunlop would offer more going forward than Brittain, and therefore, just now I'd like to see Dunlop get a run in the team in the absence of Wilson.

Anyway, you're just annoyed that in the last couple of weeks we've agreed on more and more things regarding the team.



As above, I didn't say that, I just would prefer Dunlop to get a run in the team.

Everyone loves wee Craigy!



That is what I'm saying exactly.

Lets not take shi(t)re lightly here two players who are not match fit playing could be a bad mix.

Anyway 2-0 sons will do fine Ross Clark with both

The two form teams in the league going head to head it must be the game of the day

I dont agree that Brittain isnt good going forward. In fact I think the exact opposite. Brittain provides width and has the engine to get forward and make overlapping runs when required. Granted he doesnt score many goals but how many full-backs do?

I couldnt comment on Dunlop as i've yet to see him play although by all acoounts he is a decent player, when fit.

Its all about opinions though and if I was chapman I would give Brittain the nod for sat, but Im not and it will be interesting to see how he plays it.

Should be a cracker though with a win hopefully putting us top, but I would imagine the Shire will be up for this one as well and I would be satisfied with a point.

Nah that's the one between the two best teams in the league in Fife.

what are your stats based on Dubs?

how many recent games???

For me a point would be useless this is a must win game and if we are to show anything like championship credentials we must win it.

Plus another chance to get it right up Mr Ambition

What, Hill of Beath vs Tayport?

The one that is top and the one who was the best we have played against.

Not really rocket science is it?

I just thought you may have been going by say the last 4 or 5 games and in that we have a better record than you.

Anyway I would agree that Cowden are the best team we have played against, Stenny were slightly better on Saturday than the first time we played them but both games were pretty poor for me..

League table and current form to an extent mean very little at this stage, once everyone has played eachother twice we will have a better idea of who are the best and worst teams in the league.

For what it's worth though, I think we have been better overall than the table shows - I'm going to stick my neck out and say that by the time we get to 18-20 games in we will be less ''bunched up' and possibly further clear than we are at the moment

Dont get me wrong but I wouldnt class thios game as a must win. There will be plenty of 'must win' games from March onwards. At this stage in the season its all about continuing to pick up points. If we were at home id expect a win, but away from home a point wouldnt be a bad result.

I agree with your reasoning to an extent though and if Stenny were to win on Saturday and we drew it would obviously be a worry but still think a draw would be an ok result.

Hoping it wont come to that though and Sons will take the 3 points

Of course its a must win game. Arent they all? Win our games and then worry about everyone else. Chapman must bring brittain back into the team. Hes the natural replacement for Wilson and getting him out on loan for fitness for a just this situation was what he said.

Two positions in the team concern me greatly and they are both at full-back. Key signing of last season Gordon Lennon is being accommodated because the central defensive pair have done very well so far. It appears to me that JC is masking this by claiming Andy Geggan as a very good midfielder; sure he's fine, but much better IMO at right back. Not only is he a more solid defensive full-back than Lennon, his distribution is much better too.

At left-back we now have the bizarre situation of having an experienced albeit ageing pro playing junior football whilst an extremely one-footed, one-paced junior is holding down a senior place. Until last Saturday that is. Whilst Craig Brittain is undoubtedly on the career downward slope he can still do a job and I expect to see him play on Saturday - it seems too big a step for Mick Dunlop right now, the last twenty minutes may be the better option for him.

And if Geggan or anyone else right-footed starts at left full back we'd better hope Shire don't have a decent right-sided attacker.

Shhhhhhhh!! Don't tell everyone

Just a thought here. Chapman sent out Brittain to get him match fit, so why is Dunlop not being sent out for the same reason? In my view Brittain will be fitter than Dunlop so he would be the obvious choice.

It makes no difference as to what I think he should do (shift Geggan to LB and put Canning in CM) but it seems that some of his rules apply to some players but others are an exception.

Brittain wont be back unless there is a crisis, unfortunatley

Geggan & Lennon will be the full backs, Chappie might even swap them around I reckon

that leaves centre mid open ... Canning is the obvious choice but I think we're more likley to see Cusack, Chisholm or maybe even Logan in the middle

Anyone getting the train through for this one?

Are you miserable B*stards going to give us a wee sing song on Saturday?

Why? Do you have a request?

Yes.

Looking forward to this tomorrow. Now that we have pulled ourselves into the top half of the table it will be interesting how we fare against one of the `fancied` teams. One good thing about this game - the ref isn`t Watters, this will help make it a decent contest (hopefully).

I think this is the first time we've faced a team from the top 3 and I've had no fear. I'm really looking forward to this game as I always enjoy our games together. I trust Jim to put out a squad that could win the game but I'll go for a 1-1 draw as my prediction.

Shire fans, Back Yo Reality will be on sale tomorrow costing £3. Just a reminder that all profit goes to The Supporters Club and Shiretrust.

No we don't but i'm just scared you'se will end up singing YMCA

Twice if you're lucky

Gutted im not making this one

Our best midfield has been Clark and Geggan together. Andy may have looked comfortable enough at LB at some points on Saturday, but I think Stenny were content to sit back and attack Lennon when they had the opportunity. For me he was not tested enough to claim he would be comfortable to play a game there. Get Geggs back into midfield.

The problem area this week is LB, lets not mess up the midfield as well. As for who's to play there, it has to be Craig Brittain or Jims stated intention of keeping him match fit is meaningless.

If I was Craig and I wasn't recalled for this game, I'd be looking to Beith or elsewhere.

As for the game, if we fancy ourselves as title contenders we need to be taking points off of other form teams. Who plays may depend a lot on how some of the players recovered from playing on the surface last week, but at the very least Chis made a case to play in front of Carcary.

I feel Sons should give Dunlop a start, the guy was one of our major summer signings and should be given games to get 'match fit'

I dont care what anybody says, the surface shouldnt make too much of a difference especially if its only match practice he is lacking.

As for the calls to bring back Craig Brittain Im certainly not keen on the idea. Craig has been great servant to the club and has been great over the years but dont think hes the best defensively, too small and not strong enough in the tackle. He has good engine and gets forward as best and as often as he can. But i just dont feel hes the answer at left back and neither is Gary Wilson. Lets give Dunlop a chance!

according to Sky Sports, Dunlop it is.

And Chisholm in for Keegan, with Keegan not even making the bench.

Right bummer, sitting here a 5 minute walk from Ochilview, and having to rely on Sky Sports

I hope sky sports is broken im not liking the score...

Quite obviously bad day at the office, either we are absolutely awful and making shire look like real madrid or shire are great and we are made to look average.

I would go for the former.

Only 3 points lost so dont worry

Shire were fantastic and it could have been more. Played Dumbarton off the pitch.

we actually just got humped off a team who are famous for being shite.

embarrassing to say the least.