Clyde 0-3 Celtic
The Bully Wee’s Scottish Cup run came to an end at the hands of champions Celtic this afternoon, at a stormy but packed Broadwood.
Danny Lennon made three changes to the side which lost at Forfar last Saturday, with Martin McNiff, Gregg Wylde and Ally Love dropping out, to be replaced by new signing Adam Livingstone, John Rankin and Chris McStay. Ross Cunningham went on to make his debut from the bench.
Players from the 2006 Clyde team were introduced to the crowd before kick-off but Celtic were eager to ensure that lightning wouldn’t strike twice, as they aimed to record their 33rd consecutive domestic cup victory. Storm Ciara made playing conditions extremely difficult for both sets of players, with gale force winds blowing throughout the afternoon as well as periods of heavy rain.
Mark Lamont had an early chance to test Scott Bain with an inswinging corner that got caught in the swirling wind, but the Celtic ‘keeper managed to adjust his position and caught the ball.
Moritz Bauer created the visitors’ first opening with a surge down the right and a cross into the box, but David Mitchell was able to get down and hold onto Mohamed Elyounoussi’s shot.
They took the lead with 16 minutes on the clock. French midfielder Olivier Ntcham picked up the ball on the corner of the box and curled a shot through a crowd of bodies towards target. The ball took a bounce just before reaching Mitchell, and ended up in the back of the net.
Ryan Christie then tried his luck with an effort from distance that sailed just wide of the post, and then Mitchell made a superb save to deny Patryk Klimala from a one-on-one.
Celtic doubled their advantage from a corner five minutes before the interval. Ray Grant went to challenge the delivery but the ball came off his back and fell to Scott Brown, who stabbed it home from a couple of yards out.
The Bully Wee tried to hit back in the second half. Mark Lamont started a counter attack down the left wing and fed David Goodwillie. He jinked past Christopher Jullien and played a one-two from Ray Grant on the edge of the box, but dragged his short wide of Bain’s post.
Mitchell then clawed away a deflected cross from Boli Bolingoli, and Christie clipped the crossbar seconds later as The Hoops pushed for a third goal.
It came in the final minute as Bauer broke through a couple of challenges and squared the ball for Vakoun Bayo to roll into the net.
Clyde came close to netting a consolation in stoppage time. Goodwillie ran onto a miscued header by Kristoffer Ajer but was under pressure from Jullien and Bain whilst bearing down on goal, and his attempt skewed wide.
If you were at today’s match and are a CIC owner with a website account, you can vote for your top three performers in the Man of the Match vote.
BULLY WEE FUND – DRAW WINNER: 47. RICHIE DUNCAN – £1,170