Clyde v Falkirk

Recap

Barely two weeks ago this fixture was shaping up to be the climax of Clyde’s season. Clyde had a raft of home games to take advantage of and beating Falkirk at Broadwood would close the gap further. Clyde of course had blown it at Brockville and disappointed in a draw with Alloa to extinguish any title hopes. Hence Clyde were playing merely for pride while Falkirk seemed content to not get beaten and consolidate their position at the top. The game was a big disappointment to say the least and never really got into top gear.

The team selection gained general approval with Fraser, Ross and Keogh all starting together for the first time in months. From the start Clyde’s midfield wasn’t functioning properly and everybody seemed content to hoof the ball up the park without thinking. Falkirk may have been the sharper team but little was threatening Halliwell in the Clyde goal. After a dull 30 minutes Clyde eventually had a shot on target through Shields but it was turned around the post. Falkirk pressed hard up until the interval but both teams were guilty of being unable to execute the vital final pass.

After the interval Clyde kept the same team and formation but it was still a stale affair. Clyde in particular were finding it hard to generate any passing moves and squandered any possession they had too lightly. Changes looked inevitable and again the unlucky Shields was subbed for Gilhaney. This did little to help Clyde as Falkirk began to dominate in the final quarter of the game. A tiring Keogh was replaced by Falconer and Fraser was subbed by McConalogue to make it three-up for Clyde. Falkirk saw a looping header go close and Miller blasted over with a clear sight of Clyde’s goal. Sadly the Bully Wee had very little to respond with and the game petered out to a very tame goalless draw.

What should have been Clyde’s biggest home game of the season turned into a major anticlimax. Clyde’s midfield just isn’t doing the business and the supply to the strikers all but dried up today. With Inverness coming on Tuesday Clyde will have to discover their spark to avoid becoming detached from the top three in the league.

STAR RATINGS (*****)

Halliwell *** Competent performance but again not much to do.
Potter ** Some good defensive play but passing was poor again.
Mensing *** Coped well against some very tricky customers.
Kernaghan *** Steady but spoiled it with some slack passes out of defence.
Fraser *** Worked hard but still out of touch.
Ross **** Welcome return for the energetic wingback.
Hagen *** Toiled away but failed to make an impact.
Millen *** Workman-like but hesitant performance.
Keogh *** Battled away but not much to work with.
Cosgrove ** Poor first half but working hard getting up and down.
Shields *** Due a goal soon for his efforts.
Gilhaney ** Snuffed out by the Falkirk defence.
Falconer * Hardly touched the ball.
McConalogue * Again saw very little of the ball.

REACTION

None available.