Seeking to climb to the summit of Scottish League Two, Dumbarton play host to Forfar Athletic at The Rock on Wednesday night.
While the hosts have lost two of their last three games on home soil, the visitors are looking to end a four-game winless run on the road.
Match preview
Dumbarton responded to a humbling 5-1 home defeat against Albion Rovers by playing out a 2-2 draw at league leaders Stirling Albion on Saturday.
After Robert Thomson had cancelled out Ross MacLean's first-half opener, the Sons restored their lead seven minutes after the break through Finlay Gray, but Thomson scored his second for the hosts in the 70th minute to force both sides to share the spoils.
Although Stevie Farrell's men have now dropped points in four of their last six League Two matches, they remain in the race for the title as they sit just two points behind Stirling at the top of the table with eight games remaining, including a potentially pivotal home clash against the Binos in two weeks' time.
Dumbarton will need to be on top of their game if they wish to return to winning ways on Wednesday as they have failed to win each of their last three meetings with Forfar, including a 2-1 away defeat in January.
Having said that, Forfar have endured an inconsistent run of form in recent weeks and head to The Rock having won only one, drawn four and lost two of their last seven league matches.
The Loons managed to rescue a point in a 1-1 draw away against Stenhousemuir last weekend as Craig Slater's 57th-minute equaliser – his first goal since August – cancelled out an early opener from Gavin Reilly.
Forfar thought that they had snatched a late winner when a strike from Seb Ross appeared to have crossed the line, but the referee thought otherwise and they eventually had to settle for their eighth draw of the campaign.
Ray McKinnon's men remain in the hunt to secure a playoff spot, and a victory on Wednesday would see them move level on points with fourth-placed Annan Athletic.
Securing maximum points could also help Forfar begin to build momentum at an important stage of the season, with favourable-looking fixtures against the four teams directly below the in the table soon to come.
Team News
Dumbarton will have to cope without Stuart Carswell, Joe McKee, Ryan Wallace, John Gemmell and David Wilson due to injury.
Gregor Buchanan and Declan Byrne both recovered from respective illness and knock issues to make the matchday squad last weekend, with the former playing the full 90 minutes at centre-back, and the pair will be available for selection again on Wednesday.
Striker Ally Love has failed to score in his last six appearances, but he could continue in the starting lineup ahead of January signing Russell McLean.
As for Forfar, top scorer Ben Armour – who scored twice in a 2-1 win over Dumbarton in January – was absent from the matchday squad last weekend, and it remains to be seen whether he will be involved on Wednesday.
Nathan Flanagan recovered from illness to play the full 90 minutes against Stenhousemuir and he could continue in an advanced midfield role alongside Craig Thomson.
Seb Ross and Stefan McCluskey will both be looking to force their way back into the first XI after being dropped to the substitutes' bench last time out.
Dumbarton possible starting lineup:
Long; Lynas, Buchanan, Grant, Wilde; Blair; Orsi, McNiff, Gray, MacLaren; Love
Forfar Athletic possible starting lineup:
McCallum; Nditi, Stewart-Hutchinson, Munro, Brindley; Slater, Hutton, Robson; Thomson, Flanagan; Aitken
We say: Dumbarton 1-1 Forfar Athletic
Forfar will fancy their chances against Dumbarton considering their recent head-to-head record, but with both teams struggling for consistency, a closely-fought contest could be on the cards on Wednesday.
A 2-2 draw was played out between these two sides at The Rock in November, and the spoils could be shared once again on this occasion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
