Dumbarton manager Stevie Aitken has told his players that this weekend’s clash with Ayr United is just as big a game as last Saturday’s visit to take on Hibernian.

The Sons emerged from the clash at Easter Road with credit for their battling performance, but more importantly, with a valuable and unexpected point after a 2-2 draw.

Aitken was delighted with the character shown by his men, and he wants them to deliver a similar performance in what is a massive match at the bottom of the table at Somerset Park tomorrow.

“The players were absolutely magnificent last week,” Aitken said.

“Of course, they showed great bottle, particularly when Hibs got their equaliser and everyone would have expected them to go on to win with that crowd behind them, but they played some good football too.

“If our goalkeeper hadn’t made a mistake then it might have been even better, but these things happen and he’s been outstanding for us over the season.

“We’ve been able to give the bigger teams problems ever since I’ve been here, and that could be a valuable point come the end of the season.

“We’re in a good place, but we have to make sure that we work just as hard against Ayr as we did against Hibs, and I’ve no doubt that this bunch of lads will do that.”

Aitken expects that he will be without players now and again through injury, but with all due respect, he probably didn’t factor in international call-ups as manager of the Sons.

But loan stars Ross McCrorie of Rangers and Dan Harvie of Aberdeen have been drafted into the Scotland under-19 squad and are set to miss the crucial game on Saturday.

“It’s not too often that we are missing players because of international duty, but the lads have done so well,” Aitken said.

“Both of them were outstanding last week, and they will be missed against Ayr, but while it is frustrating it is also a real feather in the club’s cap in the long term.

“Clubs know that if they send their players here they will get a chance to play and we will do everything we can to develop them.

“That way everyone is a winner. We get good service off of boys like Ross and Dan, and when the time comes to go back to their clubs, they will be getting better players than the ones who left.”