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The team was the same as the St.Mirren game, with exception of Malone who was replaced by Mark Robertson. As Saints often do, they made a sharp entry to the match. Optimism, was building amongst the away support. After 4 minutes, Mixu won the ball in the air and flicked it over his left shoulder for the oncoming Parker. Parker accelerated through into the box but perhaps felt the pressure of a Clyde defender on his shoulder and elected to shoot early from 20 yards. This was surprising, as his pace would have taken him right in at the keeper, or he may have been fouled. Seconds later and Rowbotham was beginning to exercise his authority over St.Johnstone. After only 5 minutes he had already awarded three free kicks against Saints as Robertson (M) was adjudged to have impeded the ever petulant Millen. Despite, this and Saints were attacking a minute later. A Baxter cross from the right and Mixu’s header fell wide of the left post. Another minute later and Saints had forced two corners in succession. This time Dods rose again, but nodded outside the right post. Only 6minutes in and Saints had squirmished three opportunities.
Clyde did manage to break beyond the Saints back line in the 11th minute but Baxter paced back to block a Harty cross and win a goal kick. Ten minutes later and Clyde were tempting Rowbotham into awarding a penalty for a supposed push by Dods on Harty as the little striker dived for a header. A minute later and John Robertson chopped down Gilhaney, but Saints recovered possession and a good break proceeded through Parker, Donnelly and Robertson with the end result a free kick midway right in the Clyde half after Keigan had been fouled. Although, a weak delivery followed and Clyde were gifted possession. Shortly, and Clyde were on the break, and despite being three on two on the half way line, lack of assertiveness allowed the Saints defence to recover. Clyde, regularly benefited from the educated boot of Kernaghan in defence. He was capable of rapidly turning defence into attack by picking out his men, or by floating passes into areas beyond the Saints defence which both caused problems.
After 34 minutes, Keigan won a free kick, when with his back to goal five yards outside the box, he was impeded by an eager Clyde defence. Mark Robertson, stepped up, and sent a curling dipping strike over the ever approaching wall which beat the keeper but not the bar. In 44 minutes Saints came close again, Parker received the ball wide right in his own half, and sent a diagonal cross field ball to Donnelly, who controlled well on his chest, chipped into the box for Mixu, but his header was weak and saved by the keeper. Halliwell, the keeper launched a high kick that travelled deep into the heart of the Saints half. It bounced just outside the box and with a moment of indecision between Robertson and the Saints keeper Cuthbert, Ian Harty was able to work his way between the two and head over Cuthbert’s head. One nil Clyde. Disaster, at this point Saints did not deserve to be one down. They had performed well enough in the first 45, but had failed to capitalise on chances made. Now they were paying the ultimate price by losing an unfortunate goal.
The half time whistle followed shortly after, and this was going to be an interesting test of Saint’s bottle. So far, with the exception of the Hamilton game, Saints have failed to perform coming from behind, and instead, have disintegrated under this pressure. Sadly, this afternoon, the same formula applied, and the game was more or less over when Clyde scored again after the hour mark. Confusion between John Robertson and Reilly on the half way line, allowed Millen to collect and pass wide right to Ross, who played a low ball into the Saints area, where MacConalogue slipped a low shot inside Cuthbert’s right hand post. Game over. Saints had created a few chances in the first fifteen minutes of the second half, but only one forced Halliwell into making a save. After a slick flick, turn and pass by Donnelly from a Maxwell throw, Parker had won a corner on the left. A short corner between Reilly and Donnelly resulted in a Mixu header falling into Mark Robertson’s path on the edge of the box, but his volley was well saved.
67 minutes in, and Stark withdrew Baxter and Bernard for Malone and MacLaughlin. This made way for Donnelly to push further up with Saints adopting a 4-3-3, with Malone dropping to left back and John Robertson moving to right back. Such attempts were in vane. Mixu scuffed a good chance after 81 minutes, when Kernaghan had slipped and Potter had failed in his rugby style attempts to pull down the Finn. Now the temperature gauge was rising as Clyde’s smallest player Gilhaney began wrestling with Reilly in front of the main stand, and then was thrown to the ground by Eddie Capone Malone after the little striker lost possession and pursued the substitute. Sensibly, Rowbotham left his book in his pocket and witheld from the urge to flash yellow or red cards at the Saints duo.
Sadly Saints lost out over the piece and now find themselves floating nowhere in the middle of the league. The opportunity to gather momentum has been lost. Now instead catch up is required again. Ross County are the form side, beating Falkirk 2-0 at Ochilview and share the top spot with the well organised Clyde. Even though Saints had a positive start and had some encouraging moments, Clyde emerged victors, and by a two goal margin. Saints still have a great deal of convincing to do. This afternoon was frustrating and simply not good enough.