DUMBARTON player boss Ian Murray's hopes of featuring in the Sons line-up to face Partick Thistle have been ruined by the postponement of last night's Reserve outing at Raith Rovers.

The former Rangers stalwart has only played two games in the last year after groin surgery with the last of these coming last September in a Second Division outing for Brechin.

Murray also hoped to field a Trialist in last night's scheduled run out at Starks Park with a view to him featuring against Thistle but again these plans have been put on hold.

The Sons player boss said: "It is very frustrat-ing that the Reserve game was called off.

"From my own personal point of view it was a very important one for me in that I badly need match-time and Raith would have been ideal as the first step in that process.

"Unfortunately the weather has won and the pitch was waterlogged and again it hit our plans to field a Trialist and also assess some loan deals.

"But that is football and the plus side for us this week is that we have a full complement to pick from."

With Saturday's visit of Thistle on course for a sell-out Murray says he is confident his battling side, who have taken six from a possible nine points haul in their last three outings to climb within three points of second bottom Airdrie, will respond.

He said: "I can't fault the effort I have had from the boys over the last three games. We have had three fixtures against Falkirk, Morton and Dunfermline and only lost by one goal to the latter despite matching them for 89 minutes.

"The place is buzzing with a sell-out on the cards and I am confident that will help me get the best out of the boys."