Clyde v St. Mirren

Recap

Clyde traditionally does poorly in the Challenge Cup competition, but last year gave hope that we might one day win it. Sadly, it was back to normality tonight as a combination of poor play and bad refereeing ensured Clyde’s exit.

Clyde got off to the worst possible start – after 2 minutes a free kick was conceded 25 yards out and Sergi Baltacha put an unstoppable shot into the top corner to make it 1-0. Soon after, with Clyde’s defence looking decidedly shaky, a long ball was played in between Smith and Mensing and Martin Cameron somehow put his volley past Halliwell’s left hand and past his right hand post (don’t ask!) when it would have been easier to score. Clyde gradually came back into the game and looked slightly better going forward despite looking worse at the back. Leigh Hinds, who was causing problems, had a great chance to equalise when he turned his man in the box but he uncharacteristically blazed his shot over. After 34 minutes, referee Kenny Clark decided that a Mensing challenge on Mendes in the box was unfair and awarded a penalty. Everyone, except Clark, is in agreement that it was never a penalty, but Ricky Gillies sent Halliwell the wrong way to make it 2-0. John Fraser, who was again excellent in the Clyde midfield, should have scored before half time when he met an accurate cross by John Potter at the back post. His header went agonisingly wide though. Although Clyde hadn’t played very well, 2-0 at half-time was a bit harsh on the players.

Moments after the 2nd half had kicked off, Clyde were thrown a lifeline. Fraser collected the ball on the edge of the box and played a low ball into Leigh Hinds, who twisted round his marker and stabbed a low shot past Roy. Clyde pressed forward hard and looked likely to score. New signing Stephen Cosgrove and Stevie Convery came on to replace Andy McClay and David Dunn – a move which injected much needed pace into the team. Clyde’s best chance to equalise came from a St.Mirren corner. The corner was cleared to Fraser who broke down the left wing with the ball and put in a fine cross-field pass to Convery in the box, whose shot was saved superbly at point blank range by Roy. Clyde continued to try hard to get forward, and they largely achieved that but not enough chances were created. Cosgrove looked lively in the midfield and could be an ideal "Jamie Mitchell replacement". In the last 10 minutes St.Mirren sat in and the game petered out a bit. The final whistle went and the Saints had secured a place in round 3 and also their first ever win at Broadwood against Clyde.

Overall, a disappointing result and over the 90 minutes a similar peformance. The early goal and dodgy penalty didn’t help and there were improvements in the second half. A result at Arbroath (for a change) would now be the ideal tonic.

REACTION

Alan Kernaghan: We started at 8.15 rather than 7.30. The second half was great, I couldn’t have asked for anymore, but it’s taking us 45 minutes to start at the moment and it’s annoying. I said to the players at half time, "Am I going to have to come in here at half time every game and shout at you to get playing – when is the penny going to drop?".

I’ve got mixed feelings – I’m bitterly disappointed to have lost the game and exit the competition but the way we played in the second half gave me a bit of pleasure. They showed a bit of pride and ability. Our final ball into the box needs to be better, we talked about that after the game. I’d need to see the penalty on film but Simon says he didn’t touch him.

John Fraser is playing well, but he can be indisciplined. He chases balls that he can’t get anywhere near and it affects the rest of the team sometimes. He’s similar to Andy McClay in that respect, full of enthusiasm but sometimes it hurts us rather than the opposition.

I know Andy Millen isn’t a crowd favourite but he’s well respected in the team and we know what we’re going to get out him every week. His attitude is an example to everyone else.

I thought David Dunn did well today, one of his better games. He’s more at home in the centre of midfield but we just feel he doesn’t contribute to the game enough in there. But I was pleased with his effort today.

David Hagen has the flu, which is driving me, Billy and David up the wall. He says he felt the best he’s ever felt on Saturday, and now he can hardly speak.

It took me 2 or 3 days to get over the Queen of the South game, I was in a bad mood with everybody. The pre-season went very well and we just fell to pieces in the first game. I’ve got the players here, it’s just getting them to play together, the way I know they can, on a regular basis. It’s hugely frustrating for us. The talent is there, we just have to dig deep and find it.

John Fraser: It’s a shocking result, we are all gutted. We started far too slow tonight. It was never a penalty though.

I’m the happiest I’ve ever been at the moment, I’m really enjoying it here. I’ve started well so I just need to try and keep it going. I like the role I was playing at Queen of the South, I think I could score a few goals from that position. I’ll give 100% every time I play, which is the same as every other player here but at the moment it’s just not clicking.