Jim glad to make case for defence

CLYDE manager Jim Chapman rallied to his team’s defence after they booked their place in the third round of the William Hill Scottish Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win at Keith.

The Broadwood boss had dished out some stinging criticism of his defence in recent weeks as Clyde frittered away vital league points.

But he was delighted to keep a clean sheet on the way to victory over the Highlanders on Saturday.

Second half strikes from Smart Osadolor, Max Wright and Darren Ramsay clinched the win and set the Bully wee up for a third round home clash against Chapman said: “I was as delighted with the clean sheet as I was the win.

“Sometimes in a cup tie you are on a hiding to nothing but I thought we were excellent.

“We had to weather one or two moments but all in all we were very good.”

Clyde were already one up when the game burst into life on the 70th minute. Keith defender Michael Ralton was sent off for violent conduct after a bad foul on David Goodwillie.

Ramsay’s subsequent inswinging free kick was headed home from close range by Wright.

Chapman was unhappy at the challenge on Goodwillie and urged referees to give him more protection.

He added: “I’ve been saying for weeks now that Goodwillie gets unfair treatment.”

In League one, Albion Rovers dropped three points after conceding three times in the last 10 minutes during a nine-goal thriller away to East Fife.

The Coatbridge side were coasting 4-2 before the roof fell in and they shipped three late strikes – including two in injury-time.

Meanwhile, Luke Donnell’s 89-th-minute goal salvaged a point for Queen’s Park in the basement battle against bottom markers Forfar.

In the Scottish Cup third round draw, Rovers have been handed an away clash against East Kilbride, managed by former assistant boss Billy Stark.

And Queen’s face a difficult home match against Championship high flyers Dunfermline on Saturday, November 18.