We can turn it round

MICHAEL Oliver admits he doesn’t know what his best position is anymore but is happy Clyde have given him the chance to make his mark on senior football.

Oliver (21) joined the Bully Wee in the summer from Kirkintilloch side Harestanes Amateurs after impressing during pre-season training at East Kilbride.

Initially signed as a forward, he has since gone on to make 20 appearances and on Saturday added right-back to his growing list of positions replacing an ill Iain Gray at half-time in the 1-0 defeat to Peterhead.

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Oliver said: “I’m starting to find my feet in the team having started the last five before Saturday when I came on at the break and I think I’ve done reasonably well.

“The manager changed the shape a bit against Peterhead and went with the two boys up front so I was a little disappointed to be left out but glad to still get some reasonable time on the pitch.

“I must admit though, I really don’t know any more what my best position is any more. To be honest I’m just happy to be playing wherever and having already been in midfield, out wide and up front, right-back is just another position under my belt.”

Clyde’s defeat on Saturday means they have won just one in twelve, since their 7-1 demolition of East Stirling, with that victory coming away to Berwick who provide this Saturday’s visitors to Broadwood.

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The Bully Wee welcomed back old boy Kevin Finlayson as a trialist who started in the unusual position of striker alongside new Dumbarton loanee Kieran Brannan.

However, for the third game in a row the men in white and red failed to find the net and a third minute header from Martin Bavidge was enough to split the sides.

However, far from being disheartened Oliver is hopeful there is better around the corner and pledged his immediate future to the club.

He said: “I did enough during pre-season to be offered a deal until January and have now agreed an extension to the end of the season.

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“On Saturday, not for the first time, we only got beat by one goal and really it could have gone either way, but we are struggling to score goals and if you don’t score you don’t win.

“I do think there is enough about us that we can turn it round and it could be us winning by one goal so just need to keep plugging away.

“The results in this division every week prove that anyone can beat anyone else and we just have to start making sure it is us who put the three points on the board.

“Berwick was our last win and that was a great result, I managed to make an impact myself down there by setting up the second goal, and the same again would do us fine.”

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Saturday’s match was marred by driving rain and gale force winds, but it will have to get a lot worse before Oliver becomes a discipline of summer football.

He said: “I prefer to have a couple of weeks off during the summer and then get back for pre-season.

“I don’t mind playing in the winter, the main problem has really just been the wind of late, playing in the rain is fine but that wind like we had again on Saturday just plays havoc.

“Obviously most pitches are suffering which doesn’t make them the easiest to play on, but there’s nothing you can do and the good thing is games are still able to go on.

“Last season Clyde went months without playing a match, but this season we only have Elgin to catch up which we’ll do next week on, so clearly things haven’t been that bad.”