Lennon happy with Betfred point
Clyde..........................1 Edinburgh City...........1 Clyde boss Danny Lennon praised his side’s character after snatching a point in their Betfred Cup opener against Edinburgh City.
Martin McNiff rifled home in the fifth minute of stoppage time to cancel out Conrad Balatoni’s first-half opener and sent the game straight to penalties.
The capital outfit triumphed 4-1 from the spot to gain an extra bonus point.
But Lennon was pleased with his team’s showing and said: “I thought we controlled the first half and then we got hit by a sucker punch.
“But their character was good and they never gave up. We got the goal with the final kick of the ball and that was pleasing.
“We’ve got to make sure we are better in the final third. Although we had a lot of possession, we didn’t work their goalkeeper a great deal.”
City took the lead against the run of play in 44 minutes when Balatoni glanced home a header from Craig Thomson’s free-kick.
But the hosts equalised when a long throw broke to McNiff and he found the top corner with a thumping strike inside the box.
In the shootout Calum Antell saved twice to guide City to the extra point in Group G.
Only David Goodwillie converted for the Bully Wee in the shootout, as Antell saved from Eddie Ferns and Ray Grant.
Marc Laird, Robbie McIntyre and Bradley Donaldson netted superbly for City before Thomson’s spot-kick clinched it.
Lennon now believes his side are ready to shoulder the burden of expectation this season and said: “We know there is an expectation on the squad this season, from outside and inside.
“There will be no greater demand on them than from myself and the coaching staff.
“The players are ready to stand up and be counted. They’ve had a positive pre-season and worked hard, but that level of application will be demanded for the full season.”
Edinburgh City boss James McDonaugh said: “It was good to win on penalties for morale more than anything else.
“We’re not even thinking about getting through the group.”