DUMBARTON manager Stevie Farrell admits it didn’t make a difference to him who his side ended up playing in the League One play-offs.

Sons take on Stirling Albion in the semi-final first leg at the Dumbarton Football Stadium this evening before heading to Forthbank for the second leg on Saturday.

Results across the country at the weekend resulted in Dumbarton falling to fourth in League Two after Spartans won at East Fife and Sons lost at Peterhead.

That means that Dumbarton take on Stirling Albion, who finished ninth in League One, whilst Peterhead face Spartans in the other semi-final.

The winner of the two ties will then face in a two-leg final next Tuesday and Friday.

Farrell’s side had gone seven games unbeaten before making a number of changes for Saturday’s trip up north as they had one eye on the play-offs.

Dumbarton found themselves 2-0 down at the break after Kieran Shanks and Jordon Brown efforts with David Wilson pulling one back after the interval but they couldn’t find an equaliser.

Faz admits the main thing about Saturday was picking up no injuries as he now looks ahead to the make or break of the play-offs.

Speaking post-match, he said: “In the first half we weren’t good enough and in the second half we were excellent so it was a game of two halves and we’re unlucky not to come away with something – we’ve had one off the line, hit the post and the boys are saying we should have had a stonewall penalty.

“I thought our reaction in the second half was really good but the first half was flat and we didn’t get going.

“We’ve been working with the sports scientist all week to get the right team and the right minutes into legs.

“You’re nervous when you start people like Michael Ruth, Cian Newbury and Mark Durnan but I’m just glad we got them off and the physio has reported that everyone is fine.

“It’s immaterial who we play and wasn’t a factor for me, I didn’t have in my head who I would rather play. We’ve focussed on us this season and making sure we’re going into the play-offs in the right mind.

“We’ve got to turn up on Tuesday night and over both legs to get after Stirling Albion.

“What we have in our armoury this year is that we’re used to winning games of football and not getting beat, we’ve won 17 games.

“A couple of years ago we were the team that finished second bottom and not been used to winning games so it’s a different pressure but we’re looking forward to the game.”