Preview
Alright, boet, pour yourself a cold one and let's get into this one, because the numbers are singing a very clear tune.
Clyde at home against Annan Athletic away – this is not a coin flip. Clyde have won all three of their recent meetings at their own ground: 4–1 in July, 3–1 in April, and 1–0 back in November. Three wins from three, no draws, no losses. That's a clean sweep at this venue in the last five meetings, and the goals are telling you the story. Clyde average 2.2 goals per game across their last 20 home fixtures, while Annan average just 0.95 per game on the road. And that away record – 3 wins, 3 draws, 14 losses in 20 games – that's not a team that travels well, my friend. That's a side that's having a hard time away from home.
Clyde are also in the bag. They've won their last two – 5–1 against Clachnacuddin on 13 October and 2–1 over Dumbarton on 10 October – scoring 7 and conceding just 2. Annan, on the other hand, have managed just one win in their last five, a 2–1 against Hibernian U21. They lost 1–6 to Stranraer and 0–1 to Stirling Albion in their last two home games, and their most recent outing was a 0–0 draw with Alloa Athletic. They've failed to score in two of those last five.
Now I'll give Annan their moment, because I'm not a one-sided man. They did draw 1–1 at Queen of the South on 22 September, and that 0–0 with Alloa shows they can park the bus. Clyde also lost 2–6 at Elgin City on 3 October, so they're not untouchable. And the head-to-head does include a 1–1 draw at Annan's ground in January. But when you look at the pattern at Clyde's ground – three wins, no draws, no losses – that 1–1 was at the other end of the country.
The market has Clyde at 1.67, which implies about 60% chance. I look at that three-from-three record at this venue, Annan's 14 losses in 20 away games, and Clyde's current run of two wins, and I'd put Clyde's chance closer to 68%. That's a comfortable edge for the home side.
Key Points:
- Clyde have won all three recent meetings at their ground against Annan (4–1, 3–1, 1–0)
- Annan's away record: 3W 3D 14L in 20 games
- Clyde are on a two-game winning run, scoring 7 and conceding 2
- Annan have failed to score in 2 of their last 5 and lost 2 of their last 3
- Clyde average 2.2 goals per game at home; Annan average 0.95 away
My pick: Clyde home win at 1.67.
