With three wins in a row Dumbarton are having their best run of the season, however midfielder Scott Agnew is not fully enjoying it as the Sons are playing so well that the fit again midfielder cannot get a starting role in the team.
Agnew, who has been a mainstay at the Sons over the past 3 seasons, dropped out of things last autumn after being troubled by injury, however he is now back available and looking to get playing again.
There is only one problem, the Sons are up to fourth in the Championship table and Agnew is having to be patient in his search for a starting jersey.
The former Rangers kid, who has also played for Hamilton, Ayr, Alloa and Stranraer, said: “It is good to be back fit after struggling for a while with a groin injury. I have played in a few reserve games now and it is good to be getting game time again in the first team as a substitute. I would prefer to be playing but I can hardly complain as the team are doing so well just now.”
Agnew was back in action quicker than expected as he explained: “It was thought that I would need surgery to cure the problem but I went off to see a specialist and got some really good advice. He really educated me about the injury and that together with some rest helped me and the club manage it better.”
“That advice got me fit again but and now the only problem about breaking back into the starting XI is that the boys are flying. All I can do just now is keep being patient and going about training and playing with a good attitude.”
“No player likes to be on the bench but there is not much I can do about it when the team are winning and scoring goals.”
Agnew has featured in the recent successes at Cowdenbeath and Alloa however his game time was not extended by an unsympathetic match officials as the 26-year-old explained: “Saturday’s game was gone and done by the time I got on as we were 5-1 up and I was asking the ref if he could give it a few more minutes as I was enjoying being back out. He wasn’t interested and it was the same at Cowdenbeath the week before when we were two goals up.
“I have had a couple of 90 minutes in bounce games recently and I will keep working away until I get back in. I am ready but I cannot go in demanding to play when the boys are doing so well.”
How well Dumbarton did last week at Recreation Park was not fully highlighted as Alloa boss Paul Hartley stole the headlines immediately after the game when he resigned.
Agnew said: “Saturday was a great performance as not many teams go away from home and score 5 times in the Championship however Paul’s resignation afterwards meant that it did not get the attention it should have.”
“That was a shame as we did really well there.”
Winning 5-1 away from home to go fourth in Scotland’s second highest division is a bit different to the club Agnew joined as he said: “I first joined Dumbarton in July 2011 when they were in Division Two and Alan Adamson signed me from Stranraer. We had a very sluggish start to the season but we then got promoted via the Play-Offs.”
“We defeated Arbroath who had enjoyed a stronger season than us in the Semi-Final and then Airdrie who had also had a good run towards the end. Craig Dargo and Tony Wallace scored a good few goals during that Play-Off run and looking back at the teams in those games is a good reminder of how many changes there has been at the club since.”
“The start to last season in the First Division was a struggle and Alan left with Ian Murray coming in just before Christmas. We looked down and out but Ian got us going again and he brought in a lot of the professional touches he had enjoyed in his full time career.”
Agnew talked through the changes saying: “Ian brought a Sports Scientist in and we started to prepare for games in a very different manner. We also started to look after ourselves differently.”
“It is difficult for part-time sides to compete against full time ones but by preparing properly on and off the park and looking after ourselves after games we have done well.”
Murray lifted the Sons to seventh last season and that good work has carried on in this campaign.
“Ian was the helping hand that we needed last season,” said Agnew before adding: “He commands the respect of the players automatically when you consider the career that he had. He researches other teams well and sets up game plans for us to follow.”
“We are also fortunate to have Jack Ross as his assistant. He helps to ensure that our training is always upbeat and allow us to express ourselves as players.”
The approach is certainly working with Agnew saying: “The club are now at their highest league placing in close to 20 years and that is a great achievement. The biggest disappointment for me is that I have played a lot in my first two seasons here and was playing a lot in this season before I got injured but I am not playing enough now.”
“The gaffer has put together a good squad, in fact they are too good at the moment as I cannot get back in. We are doing okay in the league at the moment but the middle section is so tight that one result can swing you up or down.”
Talk of an assault on a place in the Premiership is not dominating things at the Bet Butler Stadium however with Agnew confirming a feet on the ground approach as he said: “The players have not got overly excited about promotion Play-Offs or even really discussed them as we have simply kept our one game at a time approach.”
“Our view is that we should go out and win the game and then look at the league table afterwards. We have Livingston this weekend and they are a good footballing team. It will be a tough test but we are full of confidence so we will give it a real go.”
Agnew who has carved out a reputation as a dead ball expert over the years finished by saying: “One other frustrating thing is that we have been getting a few penalties recently. I was on them before but now Bryan Prunty and Chris Kane have taken them.”
Chris has done well since coming in from St. Johnstone and took his penalty and his other goal well against Alloa.”
“I have been standing at the side of the pitch hoping for the nod to go on and take one but it has not been happening.”
“As I said I cannot complain but it is really frustrating.”
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