Clyde 1 - 2 Cowdenbeath (League Cup First Round) (02/08/2014)

A Stiffer Challenge

As a full-time outfit Cowdenbeath presented Clyde with a stiffer challenge than Ayr United had one week ago. The superior fitness of Cowdenbeath meant that they were able to close down and hurry Clyde much more effectively than Ayr United. Cowdenbeath were also determined to start this match at an exceptionally high tempo. In combination with the poor playing conditions, those facts about their opponents made things difficult for Clyde who favour playing the ball out from the back and keeping possession on the turf as much as possible (an indirect approach).

Holding Up a Mirror

In much the same way that Clyde were able to in their match with Ayr, Cowdenbeath played the ball out from defence and through midfield with ease. Their work-rate was impressive. John Robertson was Cowdenbeath’s most prolific linker of play between defence and attack. He dictated the nature of most of his side’s play within the opening thirty-five minutes and smartly worked possession into the huge gaps between Clyde’s wide men and full backs (Left: a picture of how things played out in the first thirty-five minutes).

A Word In The Ear

On around the thirty-five minute mark Barry Ferguson called his three central midfield players over to the touchline and gave them some fairly straightforward instructions. The first of which was that they should make better use of their possession. There were virtually no simple, conservative passes made by Clyde up until this point. The second instruction was that they should endeavour to close their opposite numbers down much quicker and more aggressively. Up until this point there frequently appeared a twenty yard gap on the pitch between the midfield lines of each side; Cowdenbeath had been picking up possession in midfield unfettered by any Clyde challenges and their midfielders would often dribble twenty yards or so before being confronted.

Taking The Edge Off

Ferguson’s wise instructions to his midfielders were taken heed of – that much was noticeable in the ten minutes which took the game up to half-time. Clyde held possession much more comfortably in those ten minutes and had Cowdenbeath chasing play for a change. Before half-time, Clyde’s 4-5-1/4-3-3 system which is designed to allow them a numerical advantage in certain areas of the field did just that. Cowden surrendered possession from a shy and after a skirmish on the right flank which drew in most of the visitors’ midfield, David Gray, Clyde’s unmarked sitting player, snatched the loose ball with devastating technique, giving Cowden’s goalie no chance, even from twenty-five yards (Left: How Ferguson's instructions changed the complexion of play).

 
Keeping The Edge Off

In the immediate aftermath of gaining a lead, an experienced side keeps their play sensibly safe until their opponent’s inevitable ‘rally-in-response’ simmers down. Clyde are not an experienced side and gifted Cowden an equaliser soon after the second-half began. David Gray was caught in possession in precisely the wrong place and within seconds the ball was with the unmarked Milne who equalised with a rasping drive, very similar to Gray’s opener for Clyde.

Clinching It

The remainder of the match was played out largely in Cowdenbeath’s half and Clyde retained possession fairly well without being incisive. Gordon Young’s replacement of David Gray meant that Sinclair was appointed to the holding midfield role. Elsewhere, Scott Ferguson was replaced by Stuart McColm who subsequently swapped flanks with Kevin Watt and gave Clyde useful width on their right-hand-side. 

None of Ferguson’s substitutions transformed Clyde in a way that made them look likely winners however. Young’s contribution was insignificant and he didn’t compete as well as Gray. Both he and - to a lesser extent - David Sinclair lacked perfect discipline in their newly taken up roles. John Sweeney took up more advanced positions in the centre of the pitch, often appearing to be a second centre forward for Clyde, playing with his back to goal. 

The logic of that innovation was obvious: Clyde hadn’t exploited the space between Cowdenbeath’s defence and midfield. Unfortunately it wasn’t a successful innovation as Sweeney’s positioning and ideas were largely anticipated by Cowdenbeath.

Stung

It’s a cliché that the side who keep possession but fail to notch up a comfortable lead tend to end up being punished for that failure. In this fixture Clyde were that cliché. Cowden’s winner came as possession broke up-field following a Clyde corner. Contrary to the intentions of Clyde’s tactics, they found themselves competing man for man with Cowden on the break. The rest is history, as they say.

Room for Improvement

David Sinclair ought to have done more to thwart Cowden’s crucial counter-attack. His positioning undermined his side’s defence. He probably shouldn’t be deployed as a sitting player, despite that position affording him more time and space to pick passes, something which does intelligently.

How likely did Clyde look to score from open play? Not very. They didn’t work the space between Cowden’s midfield and defence. Down the middle, they don’t appear to have a player who’ll overtake McManus and carve opponents open prolifically. Some might also ask if they’ve a forward who looks as though he’ll bury everything that comes his way? A real predator. McManus is an excellent player, in my opinion, but when he’s asked to do a lot of work without the ball it could detract from his ability to present in the six-yard-box. He’s also not quite as fit as he needs to be (above Left: How things looked at the close of play).

Experience

Finally, there is a case to be put for Ferguson playing himself. A half-time introduction in this match would’ve been ideal. Clyde would have profited from his ability to take the sting from a game. If that’s not possible then perhaps he will have to find another central midfield player to give his side the ballast it might sometimes lack.