Dundee v Clyde

Recap

Clyde moved off of the bottom of Division One by inflicting Dundee’s first home league defeat of the season, after a stuffy encounter at Dens Park.

The Bully Wee chose to stick with the same 16 that had lost to Partick Thistle last weekend, albeit, also the same squad that played so well at St Johnstone the week before. That meant no place for Evangelino Valentim, Dan Kirkup or Sean McKenna in the squad and still, Ryan Wilkie is left waiting his debut.

The match itself was not one that will live long in the memory. Dundee was determined to close the gap to league leaders Hamilton that had been increased to 6 points by virtue of them playing a day earlier. The Dark Blues had a decent amount of possession throughout the game but failed to create many chances. The first opening fell to Gavin Swankie but he sclaffed his drive past the post. Arguably their best effort of the match came from Scott Robertson, who saw his low drive across goal beat both David Hutton and the post.

However, despite the possession advantage, Clyde’s backline was defending comfortably. Indeed, neither team really dominated offensively at any point, with a succession of long balls and misplaced places ruining the game as a spectacle. In fact, over the course of the game, the best efforts on goal were by defenders, shooting towards the wrong net! Chris Higgins saw his looping header strike his own bar and with Derek Lyle ready to pounce, Neil McGregor did well to clear. Marvin Wilson then left the pitch, injured, to be replaced by Christian Smith.

The first real sustained period of attacking pressure for either side came at the end of the half, as Clyde earned a couple of corners. Stevie Masterton saw his corner clear as far as Imrie, who returned the ball into the box where it was cleared for another corner. Then, the moment of controversy that would leave the fans with something to debate from a tepid opening period. Imrie’s low corner skidded off a combination of a Dundee defender and Chris Higgins and as the ball squirmed over the line, David Worrell lunged to clear. To the travelling support behind the goal and to the watching media, it appeared to cross the line. However, the referee chose to allow play to continue and once more Clyde rued a poor piece of luck.

There was still time for Masterton to work a neat short corner but his low drive was blocked by Robertson at the near post.

The second half continued in a similar style, with not much happening in the way of action. Ex-Clyde star Eddie Malone saw a freekick saved by David Hutton, before Derek Lyle headed the ball high over the bar from a Swankie cross. Malone was then involved in a moment of controversy as he was brought down in the box but referee Kenny Clark correctly awarded a free kick to Clyde for a handball by the Dundee player. Another ex-Clyde man, Paul McHale, was booked for his reaction to the incident.

Then, Dundee had their own period of corners, with McLennan and Michael McGowan both having to clear successive efforts from the line. At the other end, Imrie fizzed a shot just past the post after being released by an excellent pass from Smith but most of the pedestrian play was heading to the other end, where another McHale, saw his low shot comfortably held by Hutton.

Clyde introduced Gary Arbuckle and Kevin Bradley, with Joe Cardle and David McGowan leaving the field. Neat link-up play saw them combine to release McLennan, who saw his 20-yard drive turned away by Craig Samson in the Dundee goal.

Then, Clyde managed to nick a winner with six minutes left. Christian Smith superbly won the ball in midfield and played it long to Gary Arbuckle who held it up well. His ball inside to Imrie released the winger through on goal and he saw his low shot deflected into his own net by Paul Dixon.

There was still time for Gary Arbuckle to volley over the bar, after Bradley had blocked a kick-out from Samson and for Milan Palenik, the Dundee defender, to shot straight at Hutton when he may have done better. Clyde managed to hold on though and take an excellent three points back to Cumbernauld.

Even at this stage of the season, it was a crucial win. A defeat would have left Clyde at the bottom of the table going into a 3 week break from league action, however, they now sit in 7th and look forward to a run of winnable games in December.

The back three were excellent throughout and Smith made a difference in midfield when he came on with some excellent passing and tackling. There was still a lack of a cutting edge up front but when you keep a clean sheet, there’s always the chance of nicking a goal on the break. The main positive to take could be the changing of Clyde’s luck. After being denied what looked like a goal in the first half, the break of Dixon’s own goal in the second was deserved.