Football: Clyde boss looks to shore up defence

Jan 16 2013 by Kenny Smith, Rutherglen Reformer

Clyde boss Jim Duffy wants his side to improve defensively as they prepare to take on Montrose.

Conceding goals at set pieces is a problem former Chelsea coach Jim is keen to rectify if his side are to pick up more points and improve their league standing.

And he wants things to pick up before they travel to Links Park this Saturday to face Montrose who currently occupy fourth place in the league table.

He said: “Montrose have probably been the surprise side this year.

“Most people think they’ve done really well and they’ve had some great results, they’ve been up at the play-off area for most of the season.

“They score plenty of goals.

“Their pitch is the old style 3G so it takes a bit of time to adapt to.

“We’re losing goals from corners and we’ve got to make sure we don’t make it easy for the opposition by giving them simple goals from set pieces.

“If we can tighten up in those areas I’m sure we can create a few chances and hopefully take them.

“It will be a tough match.”

Jim has also moved to add to his playing squad now that the transfer window is open.

The club have confirmed the signatures of Kevin Nicoll and Jamie Lyden, who have arrived on loan from Dumbarton until the end of the season.

Nicoll (26), likes to operate in the holding role in midfield but has also played in defence during his career.

He started his senior career at Albion Rovers, before spending a successful four years at Stair Park with Stranraer.

He joined the Sons ahead of the 2011 season and was a regular feature in their promotion-winning side, before an operation led to a spell on the sidelines during the current campaign.

Lyden was awarded a senior contract in the summer of 2011 and has featured in 10 first team matches for Dumbarton so fa

The 19-year-old is a product of Dumbarton’s youth system and is at home in the right-back slot.

Clyde boss Jim Duffy added “We’re pleased to bring in both Kevin and Jamie, it will be good to add more depth to the squad.”