St Johnstone 2-3 Clyde

Aug 31 2008 Michael Baillie Reports

DEREK McINNES slammed sorry Saints' shoddy defence as they slumped to second bottom in the table.

The St Johnstone manager blasted his dreadful back line as the Perth side chalked up a third successive league defeat.

After losing out in a five-goal thriller, McInnes said: "The first goal we lost was as poor a goal as you'll see. It was ridiculous and the second wasn't much better. It's clear to see where our problems are.

"When we got it back to 2-2 I thought we would win it but I still had a wee doubt because of the way we defended.

"Our performance was as poor as I've seen at the back - we're slitting our own throats."

Clyde made a dream start after just 70 seconds when David McKay raced unchallenged from the half-way line to shoot past keeper Alan Main.

Their second came after 37 minutes when Scott Gemmell was allowed a free header inside the six-yard box from Ricky Waddell's corner.

Saints rallied and defender Stuart McCaffrey latched on to Nick McKoy's knock-down from Liam Craig's corner to bundle the ball into the net two minutes before the break.

And when sub Derek Holmes headed the equaliser from Paul Sheerin's cross after 67 minutes the home side looked favourites to take the points.

But Saints' Stuart Anderson conceded a soft free-kick with nine minutes to go and Waddell rifled a shot into the corner of the net from 22 yards.

Clyde boss John Brown was delighted to get their first league win of the season.

He said: "I thought it would be a hard-luck story but we showed a lot of resilience."

Brown also revealed that Rangers youngster Paul Emslie will join his Ibrox team-mate Alan Lowing - who made his debut at McDiarmid Park - on loan at Broadwood.

He said: "Alan has signed on loan until January and he'll be joined by Paul. It will add competition to the squad."

Clyde matchwinner Waddell admitted his strike took a deflection but added: "I hit it well enough."

MoM: Waddell (Clyde)