Edinburgh City change tack as title bid is sunk by Clyde

Edinburgh City boss James McDonaugh admitted he and his players are now fully focused on the play-offs after a 2-1 defeat by Clyde at Ainslie Park.
Edinburgh City's Danny Galbraith, right, challenges  Barry Cuddihy. Picture: Lisa FergusonEdinburgh City's Danny Galbraith, right, challenges  Barry Cuddihy. Picture: Lisa Ferguson
Edinburgh City's Danny Galbraith, right, challenges Barry Cuddihy. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Their Ladbrokes League Two title aspirations are all but over with leaders Peterhead seven points clear and with just three games remainnig to play. The loss – the club’s third in their past five matches – also dropped them to third in the table, three points adrift of Saturday’s opponents.

Blair Henderson’s 37th goal of the season from the penalty spot had edged the hosts in front 60 seconds into the 
second half but two goals in the closing ten minutes from substitutes Ally Love and Kristoffer Syvertsen won it for the Bully Wee.

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And although thrilled just to be in a position to challenge for promotion at this late stage in the season, McDonaugh revealed he had a few choice words for his players in the dressing-room afterwards.

“I went absolutely mental at them to start with because when you’re 1-0 up and you get beat 2-1 then it’s not acceptable. But the message I left them with is that you’ve got to have the right mentality going forward,” he said.

“We would have loved to have been higher but I’ve never expected it. For me it’s always been just to go out and play with no fear but that’s easy for me to say standing at the side of the pitch. We’re punching well above our weight and we have been all 
season.

“But we need to try and get some points back on the board before the season finishes. It doesn’t really matter to me personally if we finish second or third. Obviously finishing second would give you the second leg at home.”

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On the match itself, McDonaugh added: “I thought we started the second half really well. We were on the front foot but probably always needed that second goal to make sure. I think we dropped off the game where I tried to change it but Clyde are a good side.

“We can now see we’re not going to win the league which is disappointing having been top for so long. The players have to clear their heads because they’ve got so much still to play for in the play-offs.”

After a fairly scrappy first half, the game burst into life when former Hibs man Danny Galbraith went down under the challenge of Barry Cuddihy 30 seconds after the restart.

Referee David Lowe had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Henderson coolly converted the spot kick to give the Capital outfit the lead.

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Clyde upped the tempo and their patience was eventually rewarded in the 80th minute when Love pounced on a loose ball to fire home the equaliser from close range.

And things got better for the travelling support four minutes from time when captain David 
Goodwillie’s cut back was 
finished off by Norwegian 
Syvertsen.

Clyde manager Danny Lennon was thrilled with the application of his players and their never-say-die attitude.

“They’re a special group. They’ve shown umpteen times this season a real will to come back in games after going behind,” he said. “There are twists and turns every week and that’s what makes it a fantastic league.

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“We’ve closed the gap on Peterhead to four points but we’ve got some really challenging games coming up. It’s exciting. We’ve been on a great journey together and long may that continue.”

Edinburgh City: Antell, Thomson, McIntyre, Black, Balatoni, Walker (Rodger 90), B Henderson, Shepherd, L Henderson, Breen (Watson 58), Galbraith (Taylor 85). Subs: Morton, Donaldson, Lumsden, Diver.

Clyde: Currie, Cuddihy, McNiff, Lang, Rumsby, Grant (Syvertsen 67), Banks, McStay (Love 67), Goodwillie, Rankin, Lamont (Boyle 85). Subs: Nicoll, Lyon, Coghill, Hughes.

Referee: David Lowe

Attendance: 648