Manager says Clachnacuddin have to get out of ‘wee rut’ as Inverness club lose five out of last six Highland League matches
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Clachnacuddin manager Jordan MacDonald has urged his players to show more composure in the final third after they slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Wick Academy in midweek.
The Lilywhites have lost five of their opening six Highland League fixtures going into Saturday’s trip to Aberdeen to take on Highland League newcomers Banks O’ Dee.
“We’ve got to get ourselves out of this wee rut,” MacDonald said. “It’s up to us to do it.”
A week after beating Wick 3-0 in the North of Scotland Cup, Clach were left empty-handed in Wednesday’s league fixture at Harmsworth Park.
The only goal came after 54 minutes when a free kick by Harry Hennem – on loan to Wick from Caley Thistle – found its way through a crowded box and ended up in the net.
MacDonald was adamant Clach should have been awarded a penalty with six minutes to go when Lewis Mackenzie appeared to be bundled.
“It was a stonewall penalty,” MacDonald said.
“Why would he go down when he’s clean through on the goalkeeper? His shirt was pulled. It’s a penalty. It was the wrong decision. Everybody in the ground knew it was a penalty.”
The spot-kick appeal came during a spell when the home side were defending in depth to protect their lead.
MacDonald said: “We didn’t deserve to lose the game but we’re lacking a wee bit of composure in the final third at the moment.
“It has been like that for us this season – we’re slashing at things, we’re rushing things.
“Even when we’re trying to play out, we’re rushing it when we maybe don’t need to rush it.
“I just feel our decision-making is what has cost us. It was a really soft goal to concede – it was poor, poor defending.
“It wasn’t even that good a ball into the box but we’ve not dealt with it.
“We were playing against a good side.
“They are hard to play against up here.
“They make it difficult for you any time you play them, to be honest.
“We deserved a lot more.”
Looking ahead to the Banks O’ Dee match, MacDonald said: “I know what we’re going to be up against on Saturday.”
He added: “They are big and physical and the 4G pitch will suit them. We’ve just got to go down and try to get our boys going again and get a reaction.”
