Scottish League Cup*, Pittodrie Stadium, 27/7/24.

Well, at least it was 0-0 at half-time.

We had more or less done ourselves justice in the first half and even got the ball in the net but Michael Ruth was offside. (Well I thought it was Ruthie but the club’s website says it was Carlo Pignatiello.)

Two minutes inro the second half and the wheels began to fall off. Their pace got them in behind our right and it was slotted past Brett Long. Three minutes after that it was game over. I didn’t actually see the build up because some idiot scoming back from somewhere or other stood in front of me for longer than necessary – this in a sparsely populated away end – before sitting down again.

Thereafter it was more than an uphill struggle. Our substitutions were copious and by the time all five had been made our defensive organisation had gone completely. Their last three goals were the result. In general they looked faster, fitter, stronger and better passing angles than us. They are full time though and at this stage of the season that makes a big difference.

As to us new signing Mouhamed Niang looked good in midfield and Ruthie ploughed his usual lonely furrow up front. His replacement, latest signing Joel Mumbongo, did not have much time on the pitch to be able to make a judgement on him.

On to the real stuff next week.

*Call it the Premier Sports Cup if you must.

It seems I won’t be going to East Kilbride after all. Sons’ League Cup game against them will be at home on Sat Jul 13th.

Then on the following Tuesday we’re away to Queen of the South before taking on Airdrieonians at home on Sat Jul 20th and finally Aberdeen away on sat Jul 27th.

Scottish League Cup,* Group A, Pittodrie Stadium, 13/7/22.

Well I was so uninvested in this I forgot to post about it.

The scoreline was much kinder than I had feared.

There’s three divisions between the teams now, so I was expecting a much higher deficit than the 1-0 it has been in the three previous encounters.

The League Cup group match dates have been announced.

Saturday July 9 – Dumbarton v Stirling Albion

Wednesday July 13 – Aberdeen v Dumbarton

Saturday July 16 – Peterhead v Dumbarton

Tuesday July 19 – Dumbarton v Raith Rovers

So the potentially closest to me (Raith) won’t be – and the two away games are at the two grounds furthest away. I doubt I’ll bother.

This has come around very quickly. I’m still depressed about being relegated.

But the draw for next season’s League Cup has been made.

Do we have to?

Not that it’s called the League Cup anymore. It’s the Premier Sports Cup.

Whatever.

Our group includes Aberdeen, Raith Rovers, Peterhead and Stirling Albion.

Two potentially travellable venues for me if we play them away. Two others not quite so much.

Scottish Cup, Round 3, The Rock, 3/4/21.

We should change our name officially to Dumbarton Nil.

Fair enough they are two leagues above us but they didn’t look great shakes. You might say they were there for the taking.

Admittedly they ought to have won by more then one goal since they created quite a few chances. We were indebted to Sam Ramsbottom and the defence for keeping the score down but on the other hand, that is their job.

But we could have played all week and not scored. (If only that Ryan McGeever chance had fallen instead to Jaime Wilson.)

In fact we have played all week and not scored (except for a deflected shot against Falkirk.) If you’re looking for a reason for our league position it’s right there.

So now we’re likely to be knackered and playing a very good Montrose team on Tuesday night and a not too bad East Fife on Thursday.

The three teams we’ve lost against since the restart are arguably the ones we stood most chance of gaining something from and those games are gone, with zero points to show for them.

SPFL Tier 3, The Rock, 1/4/21.

Mince.

Utter mince.

Not a shot on target all game.

Only one real effort at goal, a Ruaridh Langan volley from pretty far out which went over the bar. And Ross Forbes managed to get himself unnecessarily sent off in the last minute. (I suppose that means he’ll get a rest before he plays again.)

But it only takes one goal to beat us. And again it was scored by a former Son.

God knows what Aberdeen will do to us on Saturday.

In front of a nationwide TV audience too.

Sons game against Aberdeen in the next round of the Scottish Cup has been chosen to be broadcast live by BBC Scotland.

It’s scheduled for Saturday April 3^rd, kick-off 12.15 pm.

That’s less than 39 hours after our game against Airdrie (on April 1^st, next Thursday,) will finish. And we’ve got two more games before that between then and now. Ouch!

I remember football.

(Just.)

I remember away games.

(Dimly.)

The reason for our visit up north via Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven and finally Aberdeen last January was for one such away game; Sons’ 4^th Round Scottish Cup tie at Pittodrie on 18/1/20.

Before the game we met up with my younger son and his wife, who were making a day of it, in a pub in Aberdeen city centre for some lunch. The pub had also attracted other Sons fans:-

They don’t half make a fuss before a game at Pittodrie.

Razzmattazz prior to Scottish Cup tie, Aberdeen v Dumbarton, 18/1/20:-

Teams coming out:-

Sons players:-

Apart from the result it was a good day out.

I wonder when I’ll be able to have another away day.

I have already posted soem photos of Deco in berdeen city Cantre but in Jani=uary last year we were up there again and I found some more.

Former Amicable House. I think I showed this here, but this is my own photo. Horizontals, verticals, flagpole, rule of three in windows (which have been poked out unfortunately):-

Capitol building. Stitch of two photos. Some Art Deco styling here:-

Detail. Rule of three in windows, deco style cartouches:-

High deco light fttings and interior doors, Capitol building, Aberdeen:-

Unfortunate relections in this one:-