GROUNDHOG DAY FOR CITY
Our sloppy set-pieces are killing us, says Jardine
Another costly set-piece strike was just like groundhog day for furious City boss Gary Jardine who blasted City’s sloppy play after a sore defeat to Clyde.
Sean Higgins’s acrobatic overhead kick from a corner into the box gave the Bully Wee the points to maintain the hosts’ winless start to the league season.
But City always had the better of the play and chances against a Clyde side who boss Barry Ferguson admitted were not at the races.
Jardine said :“It’ s like groundhog day. A sloppy bit of play at a set-piece has killed us.
“If you take set-piece goals out
of it we would be in the top four or five now.
“If it continues there is only one outcome at the end of the season.”
City began the brighter of the sides and were prov ing dangerous with their set-pieces.
Marc Laird’s deep free-kick from the left after 11 minutes evaded everyone in the Clyde area and almost found its way into the back of the net, with keeper John Gibson clawing the ball away.
Two minutes later another Laird free-kick, this time from the right, gave Ousman See the chance to put the hosts in front – but his right-foot lunge inside the six-yard area from Jordan Caddow’s flick-on glanced wide of the left post.
Clyde’s best chance of the half came from captain Scott McLaughlin.
His stinging volley from outside the area looked like it was heading for the bottom-left corner until City keeper Andrew Stobie managed to force it wide.
City started the second half wel l and created the f irst opportunity after 61 minutes.
Clyde defender Martin McNiff almost glanced the ball into his own net after his attempted headed clearance from a City long throw was sent goalwards.
Luckily Gibson was alert to keep the scores level. Clyde made the hosts pay for their missed chances in 70 minutes when Higgins reacted to a flick-on from Chris Smith in the City area.
His spectacular finish inside the six-yard box squirmed into the bottom-right corner for his sixth league goal of the season.
Ex- Scotland international Craig Beattie thought he had rescued a point for the Citizens but his headed goal with seven minutes to play was ruled out for a foul as City fell to their seventh defeat of the season.
Clyde gaffer Ferguson said: “I’ve had no complaints with the way we have played all season but today we didn’t play at that level.
“The sign of a good team is when you don’t play well you come away with three points.”