Ross County Database

DateSaturday, 24 April 2004
CompetitionScottish League Division 1
Fixture/ScoreRoss County 0:0 Clyde
VenueVictoria Park
Attendance3,220
RefereeSteve Conroy
CommentsMatch Report
Report from the Press & Journal.
Ross County 0 Clyde 0
Ross County manager Alex Smith believes the thrilling First Division title race has put the predictable Premier League to shame this season.
The former Aberdeen and Dundee United manager is no fan of the current top-flight set-up or the false prestige surrounding its top-six split. With County's promotion ambition on the back-burner for now, Smith was able to take in relaxed fashion about the battle at the top between the remaining two challengers.
He made it clear he is full of admiration for the way Clyde and Caley Thistle a tight challenging pack in the captivating title race. While his team did its damnedest to hurt Clyde's promotion ambitions at Victoria Park on Saturday, Smith was wholesome in his praise of the leading two.
"It really is a fantastic race," said Smith. "This draw ensures there are only two points in it and there is a massive game between Caley Thistle and Clyde at Broadwood in a couple of weeks, We have actually had a real battle to see who would win it--and that's credit to the league."
While the game ended scoreless and a lot of the play was ragged and lacking in finesse, there was barely a dull moment.
Alan Kernaghan, the Clyde manager, pointed to the first sighs of fatigue in his camp, as well as a sudden bout of illness. "Andy Smith and Stuart McCluskey both felt unwell before the game. I don't know the cause, but it wasn't ideal and they had to come off.
Ross County
ManagerAlexander (Alex) Smith
Starting 111: Graeme Smith, 2: James Lauchlan, 3: Martin Canning, 4: Stephen O'Donnell, 5: Jamie McCunnie, 6: Steven MacKay, 7: David Hannah, 8: John Rankin, 9: Mark McCulloch, 10: James Hamilton, 11: Steven McGarry
Bench0: Stuart Malcolm, 0: Don (JNR) Cowie, 0: Sean Higgins, 0: David Winters
Clyde
ManagerAlan Kernaghan
Starting 11Bryn Halliwell, Simon Mensing, Stuart McCluskey, Mark McLaughlin, Austin McCann, Mark Gilhaney, Jack Ross, James Gibson, Colin Marshall, Andy Smith, Ian Harty
BenchDavid Hagen, Pat Keogh, Stephen McConalogue, Alan Morrison, Kevin Fotheringham