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DEFENDER Ryan Strachan spoke to the media ahead of tomorrow’s League One clash with Dumbarton at Balmoral Stadium.

Ryan said: “We are guaranteed yet another tough game.

“Dumbarton are an experienced side, well organised and adept at counter attacking football.

“They showed that by making good use of their best scoring opportunity when they beat us at their place in December.

“I fully expect this match to follow a similar pattern to the majority we play at Balmoral Stadium.

“Most of the sides who come here sit in and allow us to have possession in the hope of catching us on the break.

“It means we may have to be patient as we look for opportunities and then need to make sure we are clinical if we create any scoring chances.

“As was the case down in Dumbarton, I don’t envisage there being many goals.

“If you look back on the results of the entire division you see most matches have been decided by a goal either way.

“We knew that would be the case when we made the step up to League One, the days us of us being able to batter teams at Balmoral, as we did in the Highland League and occasionally in League Two, are gone.

“The standard is far higher and the fact every side in our division, with perhaps the exception of Forfar, still has a top five place by the split in their sights shows how exceptionally tough it has been so far.

“We are certainly pleased to be in the position we are at the moment but accept that could change quickly if we don’t perform at our very best against Dumbarton – and in the two games after, ahead of the split.

“You also have to factor in things like injuries, which have already began to affect us because Harry Milne and Jamie Masson have been ruled out for the rest of the season.

“You never want to lose any players but especially not ones who have been so vital to us as Harry and Jamie have been over the past few seasons.

“It’s what happens in football though and you just have to get on with it and look for those who have the opportunity to come in to show why they are part of our squad.

“Like myself, they will just be pleased to have the opportunity to play football again.

“It’s not as pleasurable as it was before because the games as so packed together and you have to contend with things like not being able to take showers afterwards, often before having to then make long journeys back to Aberdeen.

“But you are happy to live with that sort of stuff in exchange for being allowed to get back to what we all love doing.”

The Dumbarton game kicks-off at 3pm and will be shown live on CRFC TV.

Our regular match commentator Scott Davie will be joined by our guest summariser for the day, Harry Milne.

Purchase your PPV pass for tomorrow’s match here: https://bit.ly/2Q47tSp

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