"You wouldn’t be able to print what I really want to say" says Clachnacuddin manager Jordan MacDonald after defeat to Strathspey Thistle
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JORDAN MacDonald ripped into Clachnacuddin for lacking heart and fight after Wednesday evening brought the worst moment of his managerial tenure.
The Lilywhites’ boss was incandescent after a 2-0 home beating by strugglers Strathspey Thistle, with first half goals from Aiden Cruickshank and Liam Grant doing the damage.
Defeat left Clach just five points above the Grantown team, who claimed their first win of the campaign.
The beaten North Cup finalists sit 11 points above bottom side Banks O’ Dee after the latter’s 24-point penalty for fielding an ineligible player, but the Aberdeen team should comfortably escape relegation.
While MacDonald insisted there was “no panic” at Grant Street Park, he didn’t take prisoners in his assessment.
“We were out-fought and out-thought. They worked harder than us, simple as that – it was terrible,” the manager said.
“Fair play to Strathspey Thistle, they deserved to win. You probably wouldn’t be able to print what I really want to say. Too many of them think they just have to turn up, stroll about a football park and not work hard. That’s what it looked like on Wednesday night.
“That’s something that we’ll sort. In saying that, if you don’t want to work hard when you’re put on a football park, that really can’t come from coaches – that’s got to come from within yourself. There were too many against Strathspey just not willing to do it.”
Asked if it was the worst performance since he took charge in September 2020, MacDonald responded: “Yes, we didn’t do the basics – we didn’t pass, didn’t run, didn’t work and gave the ball away constantly.
“We didn’t want to work for each other and they got what they deserved. Strathspey deserved to win the game. All credit to them for it.”
It isn’t about to get any easier for Clach, who now visit unbeaten joint leaders Brechin.
“We’re still a good team, but we need to roll our sleeves up on Saturday,” MacDonald warned. “When we do that, our football will take care of itself because we’re really good at what we do.
“We don’t become a bad team overnight, but if we play like that at Brechin, then, let’s just say it will be a long afternoon.”
Lewis Mackenzie (ankle) and Paul Brindle (hamstring) both hobbled off on Wednesday and are major doubts.
