Stevie Aitken says that Dumbarton only have themselves to blame after crashing out of the Petrofac Training Cup.

Despite a blistering start in the Championship, beating Hibs and St Mirren in their opening two games, the Sons went down to League Two Queen’s Park.

Garry Fleming missed a penalty in injury time, before a slip by Andy Graham allowed Joe Bradley in to win it.

“I don’t think we played as well as what we have been playing in the last couple of weeks,” Aitken said.

“We had a chance to win it, but these things happen.

“Over the 90 minutes and indeed in extra-time, if you’re asking me if I think we did enough to win the game then I don’t think we did.

“We were careless, and so it proved at the goal as well with an individual mistake from big Andy Graham.

“He’s usually such a reliable player and he’s put his hands up for making the mistake, but we made it difficult for ourselves.

“I’m really disappointed. It was a competition that we wanted to go as far as we could in, but it wasn’t to be.

“Now we have to dust ourselves down and go again on Saturday.

“There were a few harsh words in the changing room, but only because of the standards that the players have set from day one.

“But we let our standards drop.

“When you do that in a game of football, you’re vulnerable, and that was the case.

“All the games are going to be difficult, but I’m sure our players will be looking to bounce back.

“We’re all looking forward to a big game on Saturday now, and we will be ready for that.”

Aitken had some consoling words for penalty villain Fleming.

“He’s a big player for us,” he said.

“He’s a big character and he’ll bounce back.

“We didn’t lose the game just because of that penalty, we just didn’t do enough overall to win it.”