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Clyde v Ross County

Recap

League Cup 2002-03

Broadwood Stadium

Clyde
Ross County
0 - 1
Final Score

Recap

Another flat first half performance left Clyde crashing out of a second cup competition at home. An individual error by Bryan Smith cost Clyde dearly and although they improved in the second half the overall performance was poor. Maybe injuries and trying to integrate new players is the root of the problem but Clyde had better discover some form and quickly.

Clyde continued with new boys Nish and McConalogue up front with Keogh trying to support them when he could. Bossy continued in the midfield and once again the poisoned chalice of the left wingback role fell to Fraser. As an omen of what was to come the game was delayed for 5 minutes as they tried to fix one of the nets properly.

The match began with County sitting in and looking to exploit the pace of Bone and McGarry. Clyde couldn’t find any tempo and both keepers had very little to occupy themselves. With Fraser playing in an awkward position Clyde threw everything down the right or resorted to the long ball. After almost 30 minutes of poor football County made the breakthrough with a goal that was fitting to win such an uninspired game. An aimless ball was heading towards Halliwell but Smith miscued his backward header allowing Bone to flick the ball over Halliwell and into the net. Credit is due to Bone for his willingness to chase lost causes but this sort of goal simply shouldn’t be conceded. Clyde mounted some pressure in the form of corners but County dealt with them with ease.

Alan Kernaghan resisted the temptation to change things at half time and Clyde began to up the tempo of the game. To keep us on our toes Smith miscued another header back to his keeper but this time Halliwell arrived in the nick of time. After 10 minutes of the half McConalogue and Bossy were replaced by Hagen and Hinds. Clyde were trying hard but the number of County bodies behind the ball meant that clear chances were going to be few and far between. Hinds did have a chance almost straight away but fired across the goal. Mensing popped up to fire in an angled shot but Bullock in the County goal pulled off a great save. Potter had a free header but couldn’t find the net as it began to look like yet another of those disappointing nights. Convery replaced Smith as last throw of the dice but to little effect. Keogh had a shout for a penalty near the end but it was desperation stuff.

Once again Clyde didn’t have the guile or the sharpness to break down a packed defence. That fact doesn’t auger well for the visit of Alloa on Saturday as they will play in exactly the same manner. Serious changes in attitude, tactics or personnel will be required to take the points.

KERNAGHAN’S REACTION

It’s the same old story, I keep saying the same things every week. The goal was a mistake – Simon should have cleared but he didn’t. I agree that we didn’t get the breaks tonight, but I wouldn’t use that as an excuse. If we’d won 3 or 4 games and this had happened I would probably have put it down to bad luck, but it’s been week in week out.

We’re going to have to have a serious look at how we play. I’d love to be able to continue playing the way we are but it’s no good for us. We don’t seem to make enough chances, and we certainly can’t take them. One mistake is killing us all the time. Every week we have to be 1-0 down at half time until we can put any pressure on the oppostion. We go on about it all the time but we get the same outcome, so we are going to have to change things. Everything. We can’t keep going the way we are.

If we play the same on Saturday against Alloa, and they score first, it’s curtains. I’ve got players coming back from injury who will be involved. Mark Mclaughlin and Paul Kane are training again and Willie Falconer is seeing a specialist tomorrow, which will hopefully bring some good news. Mark will give us some natural balance at the back. He is exactly what we need – someone who won’t let the opposition do what they want in the box.

Stephen Cosgrove is fine, but our problem is on the left side so I wanted to put Hagen in. John Fraser does alright there but Hagen gives us natural left sided play. If he had played any games I would have played him from the start. I want to give Stephen a run of games, we haven’t yet seen what he can do. We’re organising a reserve game for next week which will help a lot of the squad.

Goals

Clyde   Ross County
26' Bone

Line-Ups

Clyde   Ross County
Halliwell
  Bullock
Mensing
  Robertson
Potter
  McCulloch
81
Smith
  Perry
Millen
  Canning
Ross
  Irvine
56
Bossy
  Mackay
53
 
Fraser
  Bone
Keogh
  Bayne
Nish
  Wood
82
56
McConalogue
  McGarry
77
Substitutes
 56
Hinds
  Webb
Morrison
  Fridge
81
Convery
  Cowie
82
56
Hagen
  Gilbert
53
McClay
  Gethins
77

Details

Date Time League Season Full Time Attendance Report Author
September 10, 2002 7:30 pm League Cup 2002-03 90' 604 Alan Henderson

Officials

  • Referee
    John Underhill

Past Meetings

DateHomeResultsAwayTimeLeague
Ross CountyClydeScottish Championship
N/A
ClydeRoss CountyScottish Championship
N/A
Ross CountyClydeScottish Championship
N/A
Ross CountyClydeScottish Championship
N/A
ClydeRoss CountyScottish Championship
N/A
ClydeRoss CountyScottish Championship
N/A
Ross CountyClydeScottish Championship
N/A
ClydeRoss CountyScottish Championship
N/A
Ross CountyClydeChallenge Cup
N/A
Ross CountyClydeScottish Championship
N/A
ClydeRoss CountyScottish League One
N/A
Ross CountyClydeScottish League One
N/A
ClydeRoss CountyScottish League One
N/A
Ross CountyClydeScottish League One
N/A
ClydeRoss CountyChallenge Cup
N/A