ALAN ADAMSON admits his Dumbarton defence will have to be on top form when they travel to Airdrie on Sunday.
The Sons will take a narrow 2-1 lead into their Irn-Bru First Division play-off final second leg after a win at the Rock on Wednesday night – and Adamson knows the Diamonds will be fired up for the promotion clash.
He said: "If you are a goal up at half-time then normally your team talk is upbeat and that is how we will be ahead of the game on Sunday. These two-leg games are tricky.
"Airdrie will certainly be up for it and they will come out all guns blazing.
"We went to Arbroath last weekend and had to withstand a lot of pressure and we will have to do the same on Sunday. But, having that one goal advantage does help us.
"Airdrie have to come out and try and get that goal back. We didn't have a lot of chances to extend our lead, but I didn't think Airdrie cut us open that often either."
Adamson will be without defender Paul Nugent in Lanarkshire after he was sent off in stoppage time on Wednesday night, with Mark Gilhaney also after picking up a hamstring knock.
Adamson said: "Paul is out for Sunday, which is a shame for him and for us, but that is football. I didn't have any complaints over the red card. If he goes and doesn't get the ball then it is going to be a foul.
"Mark has a wee hamstring pull, but he has a few days to recover so hopefully he will be okay. If he is fit, we would love to have him.
"Mark Lamont came on and he is a good player on his day, we are lucky we have got him."