Clyde v St. Mirren

Recap

A very late equaliser from the head of Jack Ross earned Clyde an unlikely point that may prove vital come the end of the season. Despite taking an early lead Clyde’s midfield never turned up for this game and St Mirren must be wondering how they ended up with only a point as they passed up a host of clear cut chances.

After last weeks success in Perth everybody was expecting more of the same but instead Clyde reverted to a 4-4-2 with McConalogue dropping to the bench and Hagen covering the left in a midfield four. It soon became clear that Clyde seemed to be looking to contain St Mirren rather than try to impose themselves. The game sprang to life after 10 minutes when Harty was put in the clear. He raced into the box and was about to shoot when the tackle came in from behind. Harty calmly slotted the penalty away himself. This should have been a cue for Clyde to dominate but instead all the football was coming from St Mirren as Clyde toiled badly in midfield and resorted to a long game. Twice Halliwell came to the rescue as Saints came close to scoring. Fotheringham limped off to be replaced by Doyle and Mensing switched to left back. Clyde failed to create another chance as the half came to an end.

Jimmy Gibson didn’t reappear after the interval and Keogh went into midfield. Again Clyde looked lost in midfield as Saints pressed and the equaliser soon came. A break down the left saw the ball swept into the box and Lappin fired an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net. Clyde still couldn’t get going as Saints pinned them back and grabbed a second goal. A simple ball was flicked into the path of Russell and he lobbed the ball over Halliwell into the net. Smith was replaced by McConalogue as Clyde tried to find a pattern of play. Clyde were all over the place as Russell and Broadfoot both missed easy chances from point blank range. Marshall was again unlucky to see his fierce drive come back off the post but it looked like Saints would increase their lead. The with 5 minutes to a long diagonal was fired into the box and Ross met it with a powerful header that sailed into the corner of the net. With everybody expecting the cavalry charge perhaps fittingly Clyde finished the game on the back foot defending a series of Saints’ corners.

This was an awful display against a team that really struggle to score goals away from Love Street. Yet Saints should have bagged at least 4 against a poor Clyde team. We got out of jail but it only shows how thin the midfield resources are.

STAR RATINGS *****

Halliwell *** Some fine saves but a bit shaky with crosses.
Mensing ** Struggled with the rest of the team.
Fotheringham * Hardly got into the game before he was injured.
McCluskey ** Looked very out of sorts.
McLaughlin ** Stuggled against Russell who appears to have his number.
Ross ** A fine goal but toiled in midfield.
Hagen * Hardly put over a cross in the game.
Marshall ** Odd flashes but no cutting edge today.
Smith ** Usual effort but hardly got a whiff of goal.
Gibson * Very quiet and subbed at the interval.
Harty ** No service but made something with his only chance.

Doyle * Caught out a few times and constantly just punted the ball to Saints.
Keogh ** Lots of effort but not a midfielder anymore.
McConalogue * No service and no impact on the game.

REACTION

ALAN KERNAGHAN – "We were very poor all day and were very fortunate to get something out of it, but it shows that they are never dead and buried. That was great to see because they all knew they were playing poorly but they kept going and got a reward that probably wasn’t merited.

"Jimmy and Kevin were both injured which is why they came off.

"Our performances have gone from one extreme to the other in the last week and we’ve told the players that they can’t do that. Individually and as a team they can’t afford to do that.

"I thought St.Mirren dominated from very early on. They were on the front foot and we were on our heals and they looked lively. They looked far more energetic than we did.

"I didn’t think it was a penalty at the time but Ian seems to think it was. I think Paddy was fouled for their first goal though. He didn’t seem to be anywhere near the ball so I don’t know if he would have reached it but he was certainly taken out. It was a great volley though.

"It’s a travesty that we got a point never mind three."

GUS McPHERSON – "We had plenty of chances and if we’d got the third goal, the game would have been over. We haven’t and it’s come back to haunt us – again.

"When you’re only a goal ahead you are always going to be susceptible to a ball into the box and that’s all their equaliser was, a straightforward ball into the box although it was a great header.

"Our boys are gutted because they’ve put so much into the game but they’ve been like that for 95% of my time in charge.

"It was never a penalty. Only Mr.Young thought it was a penalty. He won the ball and has taken the man as well but Mr.Young says you aren’t allowed to do that anymore, you’re not allowed to win the ball."