LYLE’S LOSS IS A DOONER
The Doonhamers are st i l l unbeaten after eight games but willl lose top spot today if Hibs beatt Dundee United.
They badly missed the goal menacee of Derek Lyle who had to be taken outt of the starting line-up after sufferingg a calf injury in the warm-up.
But they should still have had enough f irepower to overcome Stevie Aitken’s gutsy Sons, whose squad was so stretched they could only put four subs on the bench.
Skelton said: “Derek might have got on the end of one of the crosses that we made.
“We probably looked a little bit short but I have no complaints with the efforts or the attitude.
“I had people playing with a cracked rib and a stiff neck. We’re eight games in with 18 points and we are unbeaten, I’m pleased with that.
“We had some half-chances today but we need to hit the target because
we only worked the keeper twice. I don’t think either side deserved to get the win.”
Lyndon Dykes was the biggest sinner for the Doonhamers. He had two superb headed chances early in the second half but missed both.
Jamie Hamill picked him out with a great cross in 51 minutes but Dykes’s effort was too close to Alan Martin who made a good block.
Seven minutes later Dykes missed the target from six yards out following Mark Millar’s cross. Steven Rigg had also missed a decent chance when he shot wide from 14 yards in 23 minutes after a deflected Stephen Dobbie effort ran into his path.
Dumbar ton’s best moments came in the first half when Robert Thomson forced a good save from Lee Robinson in 25 minutes.
Then he hit the outside of the right post with a header three minutes later.
Robinson also had to look lively to push a dangerous low cross from Craig Pettigrew in 31 minutes.
The Sons remain second bottom but there was plenty for boss Stevie Aitken to be happy about.
Although Aitken couldn’t fill his bench because of injuries he hailed his walking wounded for battling their way to a point.
He said: “We were excellent against a very good team who are leading the Championship and have started the season terrifically well.
“I had to play Darren Barr even though he has a cracked rib and throw Mark Docherty in at centre- back when he doesn’t normally play there.
“We got a big performance from Ryan Stevenson and that’s why I brought him here.”