Airdrie United 0 - 1 Clyde
(1 votes, average: 3 out of 5)
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Airdrie United slumped to a disappointing but not fatal 1-0 defeat at New Broomfield last night against First Division Clyde in the first leg of the 2007-08 Playoff Finals. A late goal from Pat Clarke against the run of play was enough to give Clyde the edge going into the second leg on Saturday. It was a match that Airdrie controlled without ever really looking like scoring and ensures that a strategy of all-out attack must be employed on Saturday.
Airdrie suffered an early blow when Saturday’s goal hero and man of the match Bobby Donnelly hobbled off to be replaced by Ricky Waddell, who filled in at left back with Paul Lovering moving into central defence. The most notable thing about the game for me was how well Clyde pressed us with Marvyn Wilson leading the midfield battle and ensuring that Graeme Holmes and Kevin McDonald did not get the same time and freedom on the ball as they have been used to in recent weeks.
As a result of that, coupled with a real lack of pace on the wings, we were unable to play our normal passing game and were therefore restricted to long balls forward to Allan Russell who was getting little change out of a well organized and strong Clyde defence. Consequently, although we had a lot of the ball, we didn’t really do anything with it and you never really felt that we were going to score.
In saying that, I didn’t feel Clyde would score either and it was only from an individual mistake from Darren Smith that led to their goal. Although I do think the boy tries hard, his positioning is woeful and only poor finishing from Second Division quality players has saved him from costing more goals for us this season. At this level of football, the ball should not be allowed to travel 60 yards from a dead ball with a fullback out of position. He was and it cost us.
In saying that we are by no means out of the tie. Ultimately, we are going to Broadwood not Stamford Bridge and we are more than capable of winning against a very average side who less than a week ago were 3-1 down at home to Alloa.
In my opinion, we are more suited to playing away from home and with a big support behind us and an attacking philosophy, I am more than confident that we can win. Any thoughts of a get-out clause with Gretna going bust should be firmly banished as we have the chance to do the job on the park and even if we do go up that way, we would first have around a month of uncertainty waiting for a decision which would hamper our attempts at survival next season.
On the park, Kenny Black must be tempted to push Stuart Noble back upfront as he has struggled on the left wing but offers a more physical approach than Bryan Prunty, who just isn’t performing anymore. Bryan just seems to always be a half yard away from the ball and things just aren’t happening for him. The problem with moving Noble upfront is who plays on the left wing as Paul Lovering may be forced into centre half once more leaving Waddell to fill in at left back.
We are by no means out this tie. Lets get every Airdrie fan to Broadwood on Saturday and get right behind the team. WE CAN DO THIS!
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