Dundee United got a “wake-up call” the last time they were in Dumbarton but will be confident they won’t sleepwalk to another defeat.
The league-leading Tangerines travel back to the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium by the River Clyde on Saturday for the first time since suffering what still stands as the shock result of their season so far.
It was back on August 13 when a penalty conceded by defender Mark Durnan and converted by Mark Docherty was enough to give the Sons a 1-0 win and send United into despair.
As the players trudged out of the ground that day it looked like all the early-season optimism had been drained out of them.
However, they have bounced back in fabulous fashion.
They proudly sit top of the Championship going into the Hogmanay fixture and are jealously guarding a remarkable 14-match unbeaten run.
For manager Ray McKinnon, memories of that loss are still fresh but he is backing his players to get it right this time.
McKinnon said: “It was a wake-up call for us.
“The wind was howling – blowing a gale – and the park was bone dry and grass slightly long.
“We gave away a penalty to lose the game so it certainly was a difficult day.
“It’s a tough place to go for various reasons, including the fact they are a decent side full of decent players.
“So it will be a really tough game Saturday.
“It might have been the wake-up call we needed but we were still putting the squad together and we didn’t have Tony Andreu and others.
“Dumbarton don’t give up and they give everything, especially down there.
“My players have responded incredibly since that point, though, and you can’t fault them for what they have done since.”