Wei worse than Slovakia debacle

SOCCER: Celtic manager Gordon Strachan admitted his side were worse at Clyde than they were against Artmedia Bratislava in his first game in charge.

Roy Keane's debut ended in disaster as his new team-mates were sent crashing out of the Scottish Cup by the First Division outfit - who were 20 to 1 outsiders before the game - with a 2-1 defeat at Broadwood Stadium.

It was one of the worst results in their history and Strachan admitted it even surpassed their 5-0 Champions League qualifier drubbing in Slovakia when he made his bow as Celtic manager.

He sighed: "The performance was worse than against Artmedia. I could never see Artmedia scoring a goal but I could see Clyde scoring.

"It's been all right for a wee while but it has gone downhill the last few hours."

Goals from Craig Bryson and Eddie Malone gave Clyde control, before Maciej Zurawski's late goal gave Celtic no consolation.

But despite the defeat for the holders and Pemier League leaders, Strachan insisted he was not humiliated. He added: "I can only do the job to the best of my ability.

"I feel disappointed and saddened but I am not humiliated. I have been humiliated a few times in my life but not on a football pitch."

Keane's debut dominated the pre-match hype but Strachan was reluctant to comment on him and Chinese on-loan centre-half Du Wei, who also made his bow.

He continued: "It was hard to make debuts on a day like that - it wasn't a great day.

"It is hard to try to analyse individuals like it is to analyse the whole game."

Du Wei could have been dismissed after conceding a first-half penalty which Artur Boruc saved from Stephen O'Donnell.

Clyde manager Graham Roberts claimed "nothing will ever beat this" after the stunning win. But the former Rangers defender knew his players could pull off a giant-killing after watching Celtic's 3-2 win at Hearts last week in the SPL.

Roberts said: "We saw some flaws and weaknesses at the back last week and I knew, with our pace and energy, we could beat them. My assistant Joe (Miller), walked me through the Celtic fans on the way to the game and they were telling me they would score eight or nine.

"We proved too much for them and we now have to get our players off the ceiling."

Roberts advertised for players in the summer when he took over at the cash-strapped club.

"They showed all the managers who let them go just what they can do and I am proud of them."