Conner Duthie has revealed that competition for places in Dumbarton’s starting line-up is firing up Sons’ squad.
The winger stepped off the bench to score a superb third as Stevie Farrell’s side started the new season with a comprehensive 3-0 victory against Clyde, and afterwards said that the battle for a place in Farrell’s first 11 is driving the Sons squad on.
Duthie told the Lennox: “We have a massive squad and everyone is pushing for places. Everyone wants to play. It’s a good group of boys who you want to be involved with. But when your chance comes you need to take it.
“The competition for places is definitely something that fires you up.
“We’re all friends at the end of the day, but sometimes in training on a Tuesday you see boys doing better than you’ve done and it motivates you for the Thursday.
“Ultimately it’s all down to the manager. But in every training session you just have to keep on working as hard as you can to improve yourself.
“We’ve still got a few boys coming back from injury who are good players as well.
“Competition for places means that everyone has to work incredibly hard. And that’s something we’re all willing to do.”
Duthie’s 80th-minute strike was the cherry on the cake for Farrell’s new-look Dumbarton, who dominated against the Cumbernauld side at Broadwood.
And the former Hibernian man was pleased that Sons’ runaway top scorer Ross Maclean is now just two goals ahead in the scoring charts. He continued: “It was a relief to get that first goal of the season.
“The ball was just dropping and I heard Hoppy (David Hopkirk) behind me shouting for it. But I put my name on it and just hit it.
“Chucky (Ross Maclean) has got three already so he’s leading the race. It’s good to close in on him a bit.
“Getting the three points is the most important thing though. Coming into the first game you never want to lose.”
And Duthie is now focused on taking on some familiar faces at the Rock this Saturday, with Ian Murray’s Airdrieonians signing Duthie’s former teammates Sam Wardrop and Rico Quitongo.
He added: “Sam and Rico are two great guys who did really well for the club.
“It’ll be a great test against them. We all know a bit about each other from playing together, so it’s should be an exciting game.”
