Defeat for Blue Brazil but gaffer happier at end

CLYDE 2 COWDENBEATH 0

Having seen his side lose the season’s opening league game, Blue Brazil manager Gary Bollan confessed to being happier at 90 minutes than at the break.

“I was really disappointed at half-time with the performance as a whole, as we are much better than we showed in the first half,” he said.

“We seemed to lack a bit of belief. Things we have been doing in training didn’t happen in the first 45.”

Rather than bawl his men out he reminded them of their qualities – and things improved.

“Once we began to get the ball down and pass it everyone saw a totally different performance and I would say then we were the better team.”

Bollan also highlighted his early second half substitution, saying: “There was no change formation-wise but Kyle Miller coming on meant we got the ball down better, passed it and then we were a threat. I hold my hand up to needing to make that change.”

However, it was the early period that determined the scoreline. With David Goodwillie pulling the strings, Clyde dominated, and their goals came in quick succession midway through the half.

The first was nodded in by Martin McNiff, from a free-kick, and the second was a penalty by Goodwillie.

Bollan was dubious about both awards. He said: “We do feel a wee bit aggrieved, we didn’t get the run of the green today.”

McNiff’s followed referee Duncan Smith deciding that Goodwillie had been tripped by Jason Talbot and the penalty was awarded in a crowded sixyard box.

“Jason says it was just a coming together and while I didn’t see the penalty the boys are unsure about that one too.”

Earlier in the game, Cowdenbeath had a good claim turned down when Chris Renton seemed to have been tripped but he was booked for diving.

Although outside the penalty box, it did look a last defender situation.

In their ascendancy after the break, the Blue Brazil did have two cracking chances of their own, but home keeper Blair Currie defied them.

The first, a shot from Renton, seemed netbound until Currie produced a fantastic one-handed save. The stopper then did the same to keep out Robert Buchanan.

“If the first one goes in then you never know,” was Bollan’s thought before concluding: “we’ll not dwell on the first half but take the positives from the second that merited us taking something from the game.”

Bully Wee boss Danny Lennon said: “’Beath were very much improved from last year; they will cause a few teams problems.”

Gary Bollan felt his side didn’t get the rub of the green.