DUMBARTON manager Stevie Farrell admits his side got what they deserved after they lost their third game in succession on Saturday to leave them rooted to the bottom of the League One table.

Stenhousemuir were 3-1 winners at the Marbill Coaches Stadium with a penalty from Blair Alston setting the visitors on their way before Matty Aitken poked in a second.

Carlo Pignatiello gave Sons hope with a header on the stroke of half time but Cammy Clark’s red card put an end to any hope of a comeback before Aitken sealed the points for the Warriors.

Dumbarton are now winless in nine league games to start the season having drawn their first six games before losing their next three as the first round of fixtures comes to an end.

The Sons boss believes his side should be sitting in an better position having came away from a number of matches scratching their heads at how they haven’t taken all three points earlier on in the season – though insists there are no such complaints about Saturday’s result.

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Speaking post match, he said: “It’s the worst we’ve played and we got exactly what we deserved. There are no excuses at all.

“We’ve lost three goals, two from second phases of corner kicks and a penalty, and you can’t defend like that and expect to win games.

“This league is unforgiving. If you look at the first quarter there has been a lot of good stuff in there but points wise it isn’t good enough.

“We’re going through a sticky spell but that will end, but it only ends if you stick together and have hard work.”

Sons goalkeeper Brett Long was forced off with a back injury on 18 minutes after a strong challenge from ex-teammate Gregor Buchanan.

Buchanan, who made 160 appearances for Dumbarton across two spells, was not penalised for the incident with Faz less than impressed by the Warriors captain so called attempt for the ball.

He added: “It’s a dreadful challenge from their centre-back.

“I was standing right behind it and he can’t go for the ball, Brett is on the ground and he was kicked straight in the back.

“The harsh reality is that it’s a terrible challenge and he doesn’t even get booked for it. He knows in there what he has done to the goalkeeper and it’s a sore one.”

There’s no fixture for Dumbarton this weekend who return to action next Saturday when they travel to Gayfield to take on Arbroath.

Faz admits the break comes at a good time for his side and has urged that next time they take to the pitch finding the first goal is key, having watched his side fall behind on Saturday for the eighth time in nine league games.

He added: “I think just now we need to get back on the training pitch and find a solution.

“We need to make sure we are hard and resolute to beat and we need to get that right for going to Arbroath.

“If we can go ahead in a game I’d like to see us and that’s the challenge I’ve given to the players. I think we can be a different animal then.”