Bossraging afterdefeat
Furious Clyde manager Danny Lennon lambasted his side’s performance as “unacceptable” as their slump in form continued.
It was far too easy for the home team, who eased to victory through goals from Andrew Steeves, Blair Lyons and a Martin Rennie double.
It is now one win in nine games for the Bully Wee.
Lennon raged: “It’s a heavy defeat. I didn’t think they had to work too hard for their goals and that’s just unacceptable. We looked vulnerable to the counter attack and Montrose exploited that very well.
“It’s an unacceptable afternoon for Clyde FC. We’re hurting and going through a period of time that this group aren’t accustomed to. This is the time that we look for the character and the leaders in there.”
The opening stages of the match featured little in the way of clearcut chances, although both Barry Cuddihy and David Goodwillie went narrowly off target with shots from just outside of the home box.
Montrose opened the scoring after 38 minutes, thanks to a really poor goal from Clyde’s point of view.
Steeves eventually applied the finish from close range, after a scrappy passage of play where The Bully Wee failed to clear the ball from danger.
Clyde started the second half brightly and Chris McStay saw his fine effort from distance tipped over the bar by Aaron Lennox, before the home ‘keeper pushed away Goodwillie’s header from a stretched position.
The Bully Wee then came agonisingly close to getting an equaliser, with McStay denied at the back post before his rebound effort was deflected over the bar, and Chris Johnston’s header was brilliantly saved by Lennox, a save that Montrose manager Stewart Petrie later hailed as the turning point in the game.
The Gable Endies then doubled their advantage on 66 minutes. Mitchell was caught out of position as a long ball was kept in on the right wing and Lyons took advantage putting a first time shot into the unguarded net.
As Clyde changed shape and pushed forward for a winner, the home side went on to make the scoreline more emphatic in the closing minutes, as substitute Martin Rennie got a double; the first with a low header and the second finishing off a counter attack.