Clyde v Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Recap

It wasn’t pretty but it was a vital result. Neither team could find much momentum and a solitary strike from McConalogue was enough to take the points. The team will have to play 100% better if anything is to be taken from Perth on Saturday.

Clyde welcomed back Ross, but Mensing only made it to the bench and the side was otherwise the one that started on Saturday at Ayr. Given it was a fine night for football there was precious little of it on show in the opening period as both teams failed to retain possession or threaten on goal. It took fully 20 minutes for Ross to cut the ball back to Keogh but from only 6 yards out he got too good a touch and spooned the ball over the bar. Minutes later it was Keogh again burtsing through the middle but his weak finish was smothered by the keeper. A Clyde break saw McConalogue collecting the ball in the box and squaring the ball to Fraser but his powerful strike was deflected for a corner. At the other end despite some good play Inverness were badly lacking a finish or any sort of attempt on goal. As half time came many must have wished they had went to a fireworks display instead.

Despite the poor fayre on offer Clyde as usual resisted making any changes. The game adopted the same fragmented pattern of the first half as fans began to wonder where a goal could come from. Midway through the half it became apparent that Ross had ‘blown’ but for whatever reason the management ignored the plight of the normally energetic wing-back and kept him on the park. Then from out of a punt up the park Clyde fashioned a goal. An aimless ball in the direction of the box caused concern to the Inverness defenders and eventually fell to McConalogue. His volley was well enough struck but although the keeper got both hands to it he could only direct the ball into the top corner. The marked a change in Clyde’s attacking and from a corner McLaughlin saw his header come off the junction of bar and post. From another corner the ball fell to Fraser at the edge of the box and his drive was diverted just by the post. From yet another corner McLaughlin collected the ball at the edge of the box and his spin and shot was just tipped around the post by the keeper. Yet it was a misdirected header by McLaughlin that nearly let Inverness back into the game. He miscued to leave an Inverness forward with a clear run at goal but fortunately the finish went over the bar. Inverness rang the changes to try and save the game but again very little was getting through to Morrison in the Clyde goal. Clyde wisely used all three subs (Mensing, Gilhaney and Smith) to replace Hagen, McConalogue and Keogh to run down the clock. The defence stood firm and Clyde finished with the points in the bag.

Overall a poor show but a vital win. On another night the winning margin might have been greater but on this showing neither team looked the part as championship hopefuls.

STAR RATINGS (*****)

Morrison *** Little to do but a couple of good catches under pressure.
Potter *** Held firm but must work on distribution.
McLaughlin **** Unlucky not to score and some good defending despite a big mistake in the second period.
Kernaghan *** Looked nervy again but held firm in the dying minutes to secure the win.
Fraser ** Good runs spoiled by so many bad lay-offs and passes.
Ross *** Good first half but clearly not match fit.
Hagen *** Lots of work but so frustrating at times
Millen ** Poor passing again and failed to impose himself on the opposition.
Keogh ** Didn’t look sharp and struggled to hold the ball up.
McGroarty ** Doing little to earn a further contract at Dunfermline.
McConalogue *** Collected the ball well but didn’t do much with it except score a fine goal.

Mensing * Hardly saw the ball.
Gilhaney ** Killed time and provided a late outlet.
Smith * His attempt to kill time in the corner revealed his lack of ability.

REACTION

ALAN KERNAGHAN – "Thankfully we got the three points which is about all you can say really. However, in the predicament we are in that’s the most important thing. I said to the players before the match that you go through times in your career when you have to stand up and be counted and tonight was one of them. There wasn’t a lot of quality on show but we got a vital three points.

"There’s not a lot of confidence going around and you could see we were edgy but tonight will put us a step up the ladder. We’re only 2 points off the top which shows you how crazy it is.

"It was a poor crowd but that will hardly bring them back will it? The person I feel sorry for is the Chairman. He has done wonders for the club and I’m trying to do my bit and help him out but we aren’t quite getting it from as many as we would like.

"The world seemed to stop for about 5 seconds when mark misplaced his header and we were delighted to see that go over the bar.

JACK ROSS – "The result was definitely the most important thing beforehand and we didn’t play as well as we can but we created easily half a dozen good chances.

"Marko’s header was a heart in mouth moment for everybody. He had done so well and we’d worked so hard to get the three points. Apart from that we looked more solid than we have done recently.

"I was a bit stiff at the beginning and it took me a while to get going. Saturday was a good time to take a rest but I felt tired towards the end."