Taking The High Road

The Clyde squad is heading north this afternoon in preparation for tomorrow’s Scottish Cup Fourth Round Tie. Courtesy of the Clyde Supporters Trust, the players are staying in a Highland Hotel this evening ahead of this crucial 4th Round tie.

In the past Clyde have travelled on match day to Dingwall but boss Billy Reid is determined to leave nothing to chance as the Bully Wee attempt to progress to the Quarter Finals.

“There is really no right or wrong”, commented Billy, “you could go there on the day, change, go out, play and win or leave two days early and come back with egg on our faces! However given the importance of this tie to the Club’s wellbeing, when the Trust kindly offered the chance for the players to go up early I felt we would accept the offer”.

Clyde have not played for a fortnight and that is not ideal before such a big game. Agreement was not reached to rearrange any of the postponed matches this week and so Billy had to settle for a bounce game between the first team and the U19s with some additional trialists to make up the numbers.

However Billy is not down-hearted. “We will go into this match with confidence. Before the enforced break we were playing well and had got back on track defensively but we know how tough it will be on Saturday. County were unfortunate to lose to Falkirk and that has been their only setback in recent weeks as they have found their form again. I’m sure they will be seeking to avenge the result from the last time we visited Victoria Park but everyone is fit and is desperate to get our season up and running again”.

“Someone said to me recently that the last thing I would want is a replay but if that what it takes to go through then so be it but we will be going to Dingwall determined to gain a quarter final place and hopefully gain some financial reward”.

In the other games, Aberdeen host recent lodgers Inverness. “Shock-hunters” will be travelling to Alloa to see the Wasps take on Livingston; Ayr are at home to St Mirren; Kilmarnock travel to Tynecastle while dark horses Hibs are at home to Second Division high flyers Brechin. Dundee United again travel south to play Queen of the South and the draw is completed on Sunday as Celtic take on Dunfermline at East End Park.