Spartans have their work cut out to make play-off final
Spartans have it all to do if they are to keep their League One promotion hopes alive.
Dougie Samuel's men lost 2-0 to Clyde in their play-off semi-final first leg at New Douglas Park and will need to dig deep in Saturday's second leg at the Vanloq Community Stadium if they are to advance to the final.
It was a fairly uneventful opening 20 minutes in South Lanarkshire with both sides seeing plenty of the ball, but failing to carve out much in the way of clear-cut opportunities.
However, Kyle Connell opened the scoring for the hosts four minutes later, the forward unleashing a strike from distance that flew past Blair Carswell in the Spartans goal. The visitors were unhappy the goal was allowed to stand as they were adamant there was a handball in the build up.
The Capital side went in search of an equaliser and from James Craigen's free-kick, Cammy Russell's goal-bound header was cleared by the Clyde rearguard.
The Bully Wee doubled their advantage though 18 minutes into the second half and Connell was once again involved. The goalscorer's long throw into the Spartans penalty area was guided towards goal by Logan Dunachie and the defender's header somehow creeped over the line despite Carswell's efforts.
Craigen then tried his luck with a strike but it was comfortable for Jay Hogarth in goal.
Spartans kept pushing in their bid to reduce the deficit but they were marshalled by a well-drilled home defence.
Samuel must now rally his troops for this weekend's crunch return fixture.