Sons of Docherty - A look at the Championship so far: Part 3 - Dumbarton

Let's be honest, every season when there's a glance at the teams in the championship, there's almost a universal understanding that Dumbarton will be relegated. However, for the last four seasons the Sons under Ian Murray and currently Steve Aitken the club have managed to survive and establish themselves in the division. Can they continue this form through this season?

By Alex Marr

To say that Dumbarton are punching above their weight, would certainly not be an overstatement. The Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium (aka - The Rock) only sees 420 or so season ticket holders pass through the turnstiles each week and are only one of two part-time clubs in the division.



Their start to the season, is not too dissimilar to what many anticipated with the Sons languishing in the 9th place relegation play-off spot.

(Dumbarton only have average attendances just reaching over the 1000 mark, inflated by the large away supports in the Championship. The Rock, pictured above, picture source: geograph.org.uk)

However, the Sons have been able to beat Dundee United and hold league leaders Queen of the South to a draw at home this season. Away from home, their only point was an away draw against Morton. The team having received not any large defeats, in fact all but one of their games this season has been decided by more than one goal.

Dumbarton have been suffering from a lack of goals this season, with only eight goals scored so far, it looks like the Sons will be relying on their defence to keep them in the division, and not just in the traditional sense. Left back, Mark Docherty has been the only real goal-scoring threat this season, with three goals in his four starts.

If there is any saving grace for Dumbarton it's that this wouldn't have been the first time the club has pulled themselves into safety after a sluggish start to the league campaign. In their debut season of this spell in the second tier, they only picked up 5 points in their first 12 matches but after a change of manager and a spell of postponed matches, the Clydeside club were able to starve off relegation by 9 points and finish seventh.

Next 5 Fixtures:

• Ayr United (H) - 15th Oct - Championship
• Dundee United (A) - 22nd Oct - Championship
• Dunfermline Athletic (H) - 29th Oct - Championship
• St Mirren (A) - 5th Nov - Championship
• Morton (H) - 12th Nov - Championship

The club really need to find an out-and-out goalscorer who can score 15 goals a season if they are to stay in the Championship for a sixth successive season.

My prediction for Dumbarton is for them to continue in their current position in the table for the rest of the season. 9th place would still be an achievement for Dumbarton as the club do have the smallest budget in the league by some margin. It's going to be a struggle for the Rock faithful and it looks like it might be the toughest season to survive so far in the Ladbrokes Championship