Post-Match Reaction

Clyde manager Jim Duffy spoke to media after the club’s 3-2 defeat at home to Annan…

“I thought we started the game really well, their keeper had two wonder saves in the first 10 minutes and that’s the difference at this level; their keeper had two good saves and then we lose two poor goals and that put us on the back foot.

“We then make changes at half-time and hope to get a goal back but immediately lose another goal from a set piece. Today we lost two goals from set-pieces; two free headers from two corners and that’s basic defending. The guys have got a job to do which they know, we don’t do zonal defending at corners and the boys have got to take responsibility to mark and pick up and some didn’t accept that responsibility today.

“We played some terrific football in second half and scored two great goals. The players did work hard and gave everything but we had a mountain to climb and it was just too much to ask, however credit to Annan as they stuck in and saw the game out. Credit to the players, they didn’t throw the towel in – they gave everything they had and showed a real determined effort to get back in to the game but it was just too much to ask

“Today we gave a debut to Gerard Traynor who is 18 years old. In general, I really don’t like putting boys in when the team isn’t playing as well as we would like it to be. It’s always easier putting a young player into a team when is a bit more buoyant but it was a position where we have been weak in terms of resources and players and sometimes you have to give it a try. In the first half Gerard took a while to find his feet but he seemed to relax in the second half and I was pleased for him. I was also delighted for Gary Graham who got his first league goal for us today, he has been working hard in the background and we believe he has the potential to do well for us.

“In the front area I thought Stefan was terrific today and Kevin was out on his feet – he has given everything in the last few matches. The work ethic was fine, John Sweeney’s desire was tremendous but at the moment it’s basic defending that is letting us down. If a team comes up with a really good passing movement and drags you around all over the place then fair enough, but we lost two goals from just straightforward corners where there was one player with more desire to attack the ball than another player.

“We know we have lacked a dominant centre half this season, Ricki Lamie came in for a couple of games and did well but it is an area that is hard to find the sort of player we need. There are not many dominant centre backs going round at any level these days. We knew set pieces could be a problem today as we weren’t the biggest team on the pitch but we should be doing more in those situations as we had players marking, but they dropped their runners and that was disappointing. The players have got to have a wee bit more hunger to stay with the guys they are up against and that fault has cost us on more than one occasion this season.”