Keegan admits: We lost sleep over losing game

Aug 29 2008 by Andy Galloway, Lennox Herald (main ed)

PAUL Keegan reckons Dumbarton were given a rude awakening by Stenhousemuir's injury-time winner on Saturday.

The striker's goal on 71 minutes looked like earning Sons a point – only for the Warriors to make it 2-1 right at the death.

And Paul thinks his teammates would have lost sleep on Saturday night over the agonising finish to the game.

The equaliser was his first competitive goal for the club, but he was left ruing missed chances – after hitting both posts with one shot.

He said: "It was absolutely horrendous to lose that way and would have caused most of us a sleepless night on Saturday.

"After we got back into the game, I felt we were in the ascendancy and making chances, so to give a goal away in the last minute is an absolute killer.

"On the positive side I was delighted to get off the mark. As a striker you have to score goals regularly.

"But I could have scored earlier. The ball came across quite quickly after the keeper saved Raymond Logan's initial header.

"I just swung my leg at it and as it hit both posts I could only wonder how on earth it didn't go in."

Despite the defeat, Sons' first of the league campaign, Paul, 35, was not downhearted and highlighted the injuries they had suffered.

Mark Canning, Derek Carcary, Michael Dunlop and Michael Moore were all still on the treatment table on Saturday.

Sons are at home to East Stirling on Saturday but while the Shire are bottom of the third division, Paul is taking nothing for granted.

He added: "It's good that it's still early days. We've had a few injuries and we have a week's break next week which will give those players a chance.

"When everyone is fit, the competition for places will get better and I feel that will improve the performances.

"East Stirling will not be an easy game. Some people say our league is easy but every game I've played so far has been a tough battle.

"There are some very capable players in this division who could play at a higher level, but it maybe suits them to be part-time."