Clyde boss Jim Duffy says Airdrie’s ruthlessness was the difference as his side crashed to a 5-1 defeat at New Douglas Park on Friday night.
Kyle Doherty’s first goal for the Bully Wee was a rare bright spot at 1-1, but Gabby McGill’s double and strikes from Justin Devenny, Adam Frizzell and Callum Smith shot the Diamonds up to third in League One.
Duffy says the difference in confidence levels can be stark, but felt his side gave it a go throughout the 90 minutes.
He said: “It’s painful when you lose a game 5-1, but I thought we competed pretty well in the game.
“We were on the front-foot, tried to press Airdrie, but Airdrie were ruthless, and that’s the difference.
“They’ve got players who are on form, with a lot of confidence in front of goal, and we don’t have that, we’re low in confidence, you can see that in and around the box.
“We made elementary errors defensively and when we got in and around the box we maybe rushed things a little bit.
“Airdrie had the calmness to finish, and the quality of players, but they’re playing with confidence and have guys like Calum Gallagher, Adam Frizzell, and they’re at the top of their game.
“They probably believe they’re going to score goals, whereas our boys are hoping.
“In general play I actually thought we competed well, I thought we got forward well.
“We had plenty of balls round about the box and I think the score-line is harsh, but nevertheless it is the score-line and we have to deal with it.”
Clyde, who are on a run of one win in their last 24 league games, host high-flying Falkirk next weekend and are desperate for points as they scrap it out with Peterhead to avoid automatic relegation.
Duffy says his players need to put the heavy defeat out of their minds, while learning from mistakes.
He said: “Every game is extremely tough in this division and the players have to try and clear their heads and go again, but it is tough, there’s no doubt about it.
“You’ve just got to keep fighting, roll your sleeves up and give everything you’ve got.
“That’s what I’ve asked the players to do there, to not get too despondent.
“It’s very difficult when you’ve had the run of results that we’ve had, not to let your heads go down.
“But they’ve got to try and just help each other and keep as positive a mind-set as they can.
“The only way you can change things is by doing it on the pitch.
“The next game is going to be every bit as tough, but it’s another challenge that the players have to respond to.”
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