Dick Campbell reckons Clyde will be right in the mix for League Two honours by the season’s end despite their 4-0 thumping at the hands of his Arbroath side.
The Lichties thrashed Barry Ferguson’s outfit thanks to goals from Bobby Linn, Martin Scott (2) and Ryan McCord.
Arbroath’s win extended their unbeaten run to seven outings and moved them above Clyde into third, level on 21 points with second-placed Elgin City – with a game in hand on the Highlanders.
Campbell was thrilled with his team’s play as they had to cope with a number of attacks from their visitors, particularly at the end of the first half.
He said: “There’s no doubt in my mind that Clyde will be up there challenging for honours at the end of the season.
“We deserved to be in the lead at half-time with a great goal.
“I knew Clyde would come out and go at us in the second half, Barry does that. They had a lot of efforts, especially first half, but we weathered it very well.
“Some of our stuff in the final 25 minutes was fantastic.”
Clyde tested Ricky Gomes a couple of times early on, but he was equal to efforts from Scott Linton and David Gormley before the hosts took control of the game.
Jassem Sukar and Scott went close for Arbroath before Linn made it 1-0 on the half hour, rifling home after receiving a lovely through ball from Scott.
Ricky Little had to block two shots inside the six-yard box as the first half drew to a close with the Lichties hanging on to the lead by their fingertips.
Scott got two goals in quick succession in a second half dominated by the Gayfield club, and McCord made it four late in the game, lobbing John Gibson with a sublime effort from outside the box.