Michael Dunlop wants to bring promotion hopes to Dumbarton FC

Mar 20 2009 by Andy Galloway, Lennox Herald (main ed)

MICHAEL Dunlop won promotion through an incredible run of results two years ago – and now he wants to do it all again with Dumbarton.

The defender was part of the Queen’s Park side promoted through the playoffs in 2007 and is calling for Sons to win every game left this season.

He said: “Queen’s Park had a great run of 20 wins in 23 matches, including nine consecutive clean sheets. I was starting to think something similar was going to happen to Dumbarton before Saturday.

“If we win every match between now and the end of the season, then we win the league. We have a game in hand over Cowdenbeath and we’ve still to play them once. Obviously that is easier said than done, but I think we have the players to put together that kind of run.

“We weren’t very good for the first half hour or so against Elgin, who were a decent side considering the position they are in.

“But after we scored it was pretty comfortable. When the bottom team loses the first goal it’s always difficult for them to get back into it.

“Against Montrose, though, I thought we were pretty poor. I don’t think anybody could argue that they didn’t deserve to win.

“We defended well enough without them causing us many problems, but it was a great goal that won it for them.

“Fortunately all the other results went our way. It’s disappointing for us and the supporters, but the big picture is that we’re still right in there.

“We’ve taken nine points from the last 12, while Cowden have only taken one, so it’s definitely still there to be played for. I think we can do it.”

Michael is enjoying Sons’ long run of fixtures, having been out of action through injury until November.

He’s recently been part of a new defensive formation, and feels that the change has improved the side.

He added: “I don’t think the games have been a problem – we would be training anyway, and it’s good for me having missed a large part of the early season.

“Teams will always have chances, but in the last five or six games, we’ve looked more solid going to three at the back.

“It says it all that we kept three clean sheets in three games recently. Sometimes it might not be great to watch, but it’s effective at this stage of the season.”