PREVIEW: Queen’s Park v Clyde

The Bully Wee’s League Two campaign kicks off tomorrow as Barry Ferguson’s men take on Queen’s Park at Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium.

The fixture has been switched from The Spiders’ traditional Hampden Park home due to the recent Commonwealth Games activity.

From March 2011 until March 2013, Queen’s Park were undefeated against Clyde – a run that stretched 11 games – however, that changed last season with two Clyde wins and Ferguson will be hoping to continue that upturn tomorrow.

Speaking to the official website ahead of the game, the Clyde manager said: “We’ve been looking forward to the league starting since we first started training, we’ve had a couple of cup games but now that is out of the way we can look forward to the start of the season.

“We have one suspension for tomorrow’s game but apart from that everybody is fit and well.”

The Bully Wee have faced higher league opposition in both the Petrofac Training Cup and the League Cup, beating League One Ayr before falling to a last minute defeat against Championship Cowdenbeath. 

And, although Ferguson was impressed with the performances, he believes his team has even more to give. He continued: “They were good performances but we are looking for even more and we know we can still improve. 

“The boys’ attitude has been first class, there is a really good spirit in the team. There are some good footballers in the squad and what pleases me most is that they all work extremely hard so we know we can do even better.”

As Ferguson mentioned, club captain John Sweeney is the only player missing due to a suspension carried over from last season. 

It has been a summer of transition for Queen’s Park and Spiders manager Gus McPherson has had a busy time, which has seen him lose a number of players and enter the junior market to replace them.

Youngster Blair Spittal left to join Dundee United while first team regulars Michael Keenan, Paul Gallagher and James Brough dropped down to the junior ranks and striker Eamonn Brophy returned to Hamilton Accies, following his successful loan spell. 

McPherson has reacted by signing 12 new faces, including nine players from Junior football, two players from the amateur ranks and one player from a fellow SPFL club. Irvine Meadow midfield duo Darren Miller and Shaun Fraser will be joined by former Clydebank pair Ross McPherson and Vinnie Berry. David McGregor has also joined the club from Stranraer. 

Entry to the Excelsior Stadium will cost £12 for adults, £2 for concessions and £13 for a parent and child.