The rot is starting to set in. Clyde came to Falkirk today with last week’s somewhat fortuitous Challenge Cup win against Caernarfon Town having interrupted a run of four straight league defeats. And today, against promotion-chasing Falkirk, it never looked like not becoming five.
The surroundings here do little to lift the mood. The Falkirk Stadium, fully 18 years-old now, is still only three-sided, with one empty touchline. And, since Clyde fans are housed in a wee section at the end of the Main Stand, the nominal away stand is completely empty. It’s not quite as moon-like as Airdrie, but it’s not an inspiring place to watch a game either. It’s hard not to feel great sympathy for Falkirk fans who were dragged out of Brockville to this depressing out-of-town monstrosity.
Getting in is difficult enough. Falkirk have absolutely no signs telling you where away fans go. So, we wander for a bit with some other Clyde supporters before eventually finding the right turnstyle. Then we settle in at the end of the Main Stand for what promises to be a tough day.
Falkirk simply have far better players than Clyde, and the technique on the ball of the likes of Burrell is streets ahead of what the Bully Wee have to offer. But Clyde really don’t help themselves at times.
Falkirk have already hit the bar before Stephen McGinn opens the scoring after being left with bags of time to fire the ball home from a Falkirk corner. Even as the delivery was in the air, it was easy to see what was coming from the knock down. In a situation like Clyde’s, you have to defend better than this to have any chance of picking up points in this kind of fixture.
There’s no shortage of effort from the visitors, and Cunningham gets away a quick shot on the turn that Hogarth in the Falkirk goal tips round for a corner. But often in attack Clyde look lightweight and this just puts further pressure on a defence that looks very suspect.
Soon, it’s 2-0 and essentially game over. Falkirk put together a nice passing move, and when the ball is eventually played into the box there are claims for a penalty for handball. Stephen McGinn ignores the fuss to fire home his second with a nice left-foot shot. Clyde are done.
Falkirk continue to exploit the visitors’ weaknesses. Pace is a huge issue at the back for Clyde, and at one point Burrell nearly adds a third after making up a ten-yard gap to Peter Grant in just a few seconds and managing to get an effort at goal. Clyde look ready to concede at any time.
The Bully Wee improve in the second half. Partly as a result of Falkirk managing the game, and partly as a result of the introduction of Jordan Allan. His directness, power, and energy add a lot to the attack and he nearly gets one back after a good run that forces a scramble in the Falkirk box.
Cunningham puts a free-kick narrowly over the bar and Clyde’s afternoon slithers towards that fifth league defeat in a row. The second half showed promise. A bit of fight and a goal threat with Allan on the park, but defending like this will always leave Clyde with a mountain to climb.
So, it’s out to wait for the car park to clear and head home.
It’s been my first visit to Falkirk since about 2008, I think. I remember Hearts losing 2-1 here, and I think that was my last visit. Falkirk have fallen a long way since those days, and in a way it’s quite impressive they’ve managed to strand themselves in the third tier. How? But this side looks capable of going up. They were well within themselves and had the game won early. The atmosphere was a bit flat, but I think you can blame that on the presence of one empty touchline and the fact that this was about as run-of-the-mill a victory as they’re likely to see this season.
For Clyde, it’s looking like a long season ahead. And, once more, not even a sniff at the half-time draw. Pish.
