From The Other Side

The Official Website’s Craig Anderson caught up with ex-Clyde man Chris Aitken, as his Stirling side prepared for a trip to Broadwood for a crucial IRN-BRU First Division match…

Clyde v Stirling (22/12/2007)

CHRIS AITKEN thinks this is the time of the year when clubs will find out what sort of season they are going to have – and he reckons Stirling need to have a good Christmas. The Stirling skipper is fully aware of the importance of the seasonal

games and with much valued points to be won, Aitken knows the Binos must start picking up points now.

He said: “There are a lot of games coming up and the amount of matches we’ll have will no doubt take their toll on us as a part-time club. But if we can get a wee run together and get ourselves off the bottom of the league then it will give us a timely boost. The fact that we’re managing to get points from games gives us a fighting chance, but that has to change starting with Clyde on Saturday.

“We’re playing a Clyde side who have done well under Colin Hendry and I think they’ll get better as the season goes on. I certainly don’t see them near the relegation when the real scrapping starts and the side have done well considering they had to adapt to a new manager at the start of the season.”

Stirling come to Broadwood on Saturday still looking for their first away win of the season and they’ll be hoping to do to the Bully Wee what they did at Forthbank in October. Goals from Gary Arbuckle and Neil McGregor sealed Colin Hendry’s first away victory in that clash in Stirling.

Aitken admits to being impressed by Clyde when the sides met in that Division One clash. He added: “Clyde were in the same position as us when we played each other, but I’ve got to be honest and say that I was very impressed with them. I remember they had been getting a lot of stick because they started quite poorly, but they’ve got a great squad of young boys who are benefiting from full time football.

“Every team we’ve played since getting promoted have been of a higher quality and that’s no disrespect to the teams we played in Division Two last season. Before we could go a goal behind and come back and score two, but a goal scored against you in this league and it’s a different affair.”

Stirling are looking for their first win against Clyde since March 1996 when Kevin Drinkell led his side to a 3-1 win over the Bully Wee, managed by Gardner Spiers at the time. Their last visit to Clyde’s neck of the woods wasn’t such a happy occasion as Clyde romped to a 4-1 win, helped by a Pat Keogh brace.

The scene is set for this match and Stirling’s thirst for points has been further enhanced after their defeat to Queen of the South last Saturday, meaning they still only have one win in their 16 games.

Meanwhile Clyde are unbeaten in their last five matches, their best run under Hendry and a win over Stirling, plus the help of other results would see the Bully Wee reach their highest league position of the season..

Let’s hope for a Christmas cracker…