Clyde looking to banish memories of Charlie Nicholas with win over Rangers
The last time the Bully Wee faced the Gers at Broadwood they wheeled out the former Celtic veteran for an unlikely swansong. This time they hope to make the headlines with a victory, but Neil Sargent explains why they won't
Sixteen years ago a star-studded Rangers side visited Clyde’s Broadwood Stadium for a televised Scottish Cup tie.
With the likes of Paul Gascoigne, Brian Laudrup, Andy Goram and Stuart McCall in their ranks, the visitors were expected to stroll to victory against their Second Division hosts who were experiencing a quietly underwhelming season, floating around in mid-table and making headlines more for the cameo appearances of the near-geriatric striker Charlie Nicholas than for their football.
But the Bully Wee came within 25 minutes of causing a sensation after Ian Angus’ first-half goal put them into a surprise lead.
It took a goal from Charlie Miller in the 66th minute to shock the Ibrox giants into life, and three further goals in the last fifteen minutes as Clyde tired spared the visitor’s blushes and made the scoreline look considerably more comfortable than it actually was.
| Confederation Cup - Group A | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 2-0 | Mexico | £130.00 | (11/2) |
| Brazil | 1-0 | Mexico | £155.00 | (27/4) |
| Brazil | 3-0 | Mexico | £160.00 | (7/1) |
| Brazil win | £26.00 | (3/10) | ||
| Draw | £100.00 | (4/1) | ||
| Mexico win | £195.00 | (35/4) | ||
That memorable match was the last time Clyde played Rangers at Broadwood but, on Sunday, the Sky cameras come calling once again to capture the visit of a slightly less glamorous Gers outfit.
This time around there is no Gazza or Laudrup. Instead, a team of hastily assembled journeymen guided by a rookie boss who has flattered to deceive in the role so far will hold much less fear for the Cumbernauld side.
Ally McCoist’s men are yet to win a single game away from home in the Third Division having come up short at Peterhead, Berwick, Annan and Stirling so far. Three of those games have ended in draws, so odds of 9/2 on another draw at Broadwood could do decent business.
New customers who register with bwin online qualify for a free £20 bet and using that to back a draw between Clyde and Rangers will return £110 if successful.
Also looking tempting are odds of evens on Clyde to score – something that every single one of Rangers’ Division 3 opponents have done so far, with the exception of Annan.
But McCoist has this week talked of the importance of Rangers getting their first away win to get the monkey off their back and, as is becoming customary with Rangers this season, they remain overwhelming favourites to win the match, priced at 11/50, while Jim Duffy’s side are out at 8/1 to go 25 minutes better than sixteen years ago and hold on for a famous win that will consign any mention of Charlie Nicholas in the White and Red to the history books.