After taking four points from four games on the road the Light Blues produced a solid performance on Broadwood’s artificial surface with Dean Shiels and Lee McCulloch getting the all important goals on 16 and 80 minutes respectively.
The sending off of midfielder John Neill after the hour mark helped the Light Blues on their way to securing three points but Ally McCoist must be pleased with the hard work his players put in albeit there is still room for improvement.
Northern Ireland’s Chris Hegarty and Andy Little were both named in the manager’s starting eleven for kick off with Fraser Aird on the bench and Sebastien Faure out of the squad altogether, presumably due to injury.
The pre-match downpour meant the lush but greasy astro pitch perfectly suited the visitors and both teams started the match positively, albeit Rangers looked more dangerous in the last third.
On 7 minutes a great cross from Hegarty, playing at right back, skidded across goal and had to be palmed away nervously by Clyde’s keeper Jamie Barclay.
And two minutes later Little dispossessed left back Lee Sharp and his intelligent cut back found McCulloch who clipped the cross bar with his right foot effort on the turn.
The early pressure continued and a tidy move involving Ian Black and Lewis Macleod resulted in Little picking up the ball just inside the 18 yard box but his first shot was straight at the keeper and his second from the rebound fizzed wide of the far post when he probably should have scored.
The opening goal was coming and it arrived with 16 minutes on the clock and it was a corker from Shiels.
Ross Perry punted the ball up to his captain McCulloch who headed it on to the Ulsterman who was 20 yards out on the left.
He only looked up once before curling a superb right-foot effort across Barclay and inside his far post.
Clyde, however, responded well and a low shot from Neill was held by Alexander who dived to his right.
On 36 minutes the Bully Wee should have been on level terms.
Number 10 Bryan Gilfillan got in behind the Gers backline and his cut back found Stefan McCluskey but the lone striker fired his effort wide before putting his hands on his head.
Rangers though continued to push forward and they were unlucky not to double their advantage before the break.
Lee Wallace’s thunderbolt from 35 yards was heading for the top corner but Barclay made a stunning fingertip save to deny the defender.
And from the resulting corner McCulloch’s downward header bounced off the plastic turf and looked to be going in but again the keeper was there to flick the ball on to the post.
After the interval Clyde came out of the traps quickly and Alexander was immediately called into action.
Number 11 McColm popped up on the right wing and his dangerous cross was headed towards goal by McCluskey but the Gers keeper was there to make an impressive stop.
This was a pivotal moment because, on 67 minutes, Clyde were reduced to ten men when Neill was sent off by referee Alan Muir for a second bookable offence.
The midfielder needlessly got involved in a bit of handbags with Shiels and when he appeared to raise his hands towards the Ulsterman the official had no option but to go to his pocket.
Rangers now had no excuses and when the game resumed Macleod produced a jinking run down the left and his cross found McCulloch who blasted a shot over the bar.
Jig was then left red faced when Lewis sent him running through on goal but, with substitute Barrie McKay screaming for a pass inside, his sclaffed a shot past the post.
The skipper made amends with 10 minutes to go when he bagged his 14th goal of the season and secured all three points.
Hegarty’s deep delivery found Ian Black and when he played it back across goal McCulloch couldn’t miss from three yards.
Before the end he had another opportunity to add to to his tally but his left foot drive flew inches wide with Barclay beaten.
CLYDE (4-5-1): Barclay; Brown, Marsh, Oliver, Sharp; Neill, Hay, Gilfillan (Kane 75), Sweeney, McColm; McCluskey (Watt 82)
Subs Not Used: Fitzharris, Scullion, Rajovic
RANGERS (4-1-4-1): Alexnader; Hegarty, Cribari (Argyriou 82), Perry, Wallace; Hutton; Little (Aird 83), Black, Macleod, Shiels (McKay 73); McCulloch
Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Kyle
REF: Alan Muir
