Dundee 2-0 Clyde

Mar 30 2008 Chris Gallagher At Dens Park

CLYDE'S bogeyman David O'Brien helped give Dundee a massive promotion boost.

The winger has only scored twice for the Dens men - and BOTH have come against the Bully Wee.

Kevin McDonald also got on the scoresheet as Dundee moved just four points behind long-time Division One leaders Hamilton.

Stuttering Accies' draw with Partick means Alex Rae's men can claw back the gap to just a point if they win their game in hand - and O'Brien insists the title race is very much on.

He said: "I've had two promotions in three years so it would be good to do it again and get into the SPL.

"We are really confident now. We have five cup finals ahead of us but really believe in ourselves."

Rae revealed the mood among the players was surprisingly downbeat.

He said: "The atmosphere in the dressing room was quite subdued.

"We've been told results in the past then Accies have popped up with a late winner so no-one was getting excited in case there was misinformation.

"We had a good shape in all parts of the pitch and our keeper has not had much to do."

Bully Wee had lost only one away league game since September but were under the cosh from the start.

In three minutes Gary MacKenzie's close-range strike was hooked off the line by Pat Clark.

And Clyde were trailing just four minutes later after Dusan Bestvina conceded a soft free-kick for fouling Bob Davidson just outside the box.

Derek Lyle's fierce drive was parried by David Hutton and O'Brien tapped home the rebound.

Neil McGregor should have equalised in 16 minutes but could only summon a tame effort that Craig Samson easily blocked.

And Dundee almost extended their lead in 20 minutes as MacKenzie headed McDonald's free-kick over from six yards.

Centre-half MacKenzie threatened again in 27 minutes, heading Eddie Malone's corner over from four yards.

The hosts were going for the kill and seconds later Hutton saved bravely at Patrick Noubissie's feet after fumbling Davidson's low cross.

Former Rangers ace Jorg Albertz has shown he's not lost his touch from setpieces and came closest to getting Clyde back in the match in 32 minutes.

His curling free-kick deceived Samson but crashed off the bar.

The Dark Blues survived again in 35 minutes when Kevin Bradley's header from Albertz's pinpoint corner was cleared off the line by McDonald.

Malone tested Hutton with a 25-yard free-kick then Lyle forced another save following a run and shot.

Clyde sub David McKay sent a low shot skidding wide just after the restart. Lyle shot over from 18 yards before strike pal Davidson went off injured on the hour and was replaced by Gavin Swankie.

Samson was forced to race out of his penalty box to clear the ball as Clyde danger man McKay homed in on the target.

But in 74 minutes MacDonald wrapped up the points, coolly slotting his 11th goal of the season past Hutton. Swankie thought he had made it 3-0 in 76 minutes when he shot past Hutton only to be ruled offside.

Clyde boss John Brown put on striker Mark McCusker for Ruari MacLennan as he tried desperately to rescue a point.

Clark could have handed him a lifeline in 78 minutes - but blasted over from10 yards and the points were lost.

Brown moaned: "We didn't deserve anything.

"Basic errors cost us.We need boys with bottle now to stand up and be counted."

MoM: O'Brien (Dundee)