Dumbarton still have work to do to stay in the SPFL Championship after Saturday's 3-2 home loss to Raith Rovers writes Jack Crawford.

The Sons still remain outside the relegation play-off zone by five points with three games to go.

Christian Nade put Dumbarton ahead early in the first half at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium, and it stayed that way until the break.

A second-half blitz from the visitors, though, sealed another impressive win for the Kirkcaldy side as they prepare for the play-offs at the other end of the table.

Steven Saunders scored in added time for Stevie Aitken’s men but couldn’t find an equaliser as Dumbarton fell to just their second home defeat of 2016.

There was only one change from Tuesday night’s win over Queen of the South, Grant Gallagher replacing Kevin Cawley.

The game started fairly evenly with both sides having half chances. Jamie Lindsay did well to win the ball for Dumbarton before passing to midfield partner Jon Routledge. The Liverpudlian skipped past one challenge but hesitated when it came to shooting and Rovers scrambled the ball clear.

For the away side, Harry Panayiotou headed over the back post.

It took a little over 10 minutes for Sons to open the scoring. Tom Walsh clipped a ball into the back post which was brought down by Nade, who turned it home from close range.

Raith came close to an equaliser when Ryan Hardie struck the ball from the edge of the area, but Jamie Ewings was equal to the shot and pushed the ball to safety.

Walsh, keen to add to his first goal for Dumbarton that he scored on Tuesday night, came close but his shot from 18 yards flashed just wide.

Rovers ended the half the stronger, and Mark Docherty cleared a lob from Lewis Toshney off the line after Ewings came a long way out of position. Hardie also almost got in behind the Dumbarton defence but Gregor Buchanan put the ball behind for a corner.

The second half was only a few minutes old when Raith equalised. Sons gave the ball away cheaply on more than one occasion in the final third, and Hardie slipped it under Ewings.

It was a frustrating blow for Dumbarton, whose hard work and good performance in the first 45 was now all for nothing.

Walsh then blazed the ball over from a tight angle when a cross may have been the better option.

Raith went ahead not long after when Aiden Connolly controlled the ball and volleyed it into the top corner from more than 20 yards. It was a fine strike from the former Dundee United man and it left Dumbarton to chase the game.

Their problems were compounded when Nade went down chasing a long ball and immediately grabbed his hamstring.

The Sons goalscorer, who has been influential since joining the club, had to go off and it is likely he won’t play again this season.

Paul Heffernan replaced the Frenchman and was joined by Garry Fleming up front.

The next goal of the game proved vital as Raith went 3-1 ahead. After more scrappy play on the edge of the area from Dumbarton, the ball was eventually fed to James Craigen, who took a touch before curling the ball into the bottom corner.

Walsh went close again and Mark Docherty hit the roof of the net from a corner.

Saunders did make the last couple of minutes interesting with a header into the top corner, but time just got away from Dumbarton.

It is possible for Dumbarton to secure safety with victory over St Mirren next week, but only if Livingston lose in Dumfries against Queen of the South, so the fight to remain in the Championship goes on.