JIM Chapman praised goal hero Kevin Nicoll for silencing his critics in the Stenhousemuir dug-out with his equaliser in Saturday's 1-1 draw. The Clyde boss said he didn't recognise his team during a first half where they trailed to a Mark McGuigan strike, but he pointed out to Nicoll the catcalls coming in his direction at half time and got the desired reaction when he nodded in the equaliser.

"It hurt me a wee bit hearing some of the comments from the opposition dugout so I reminded him about it," said Chapman. "Some comments are a wee bit belittling at times form the opposition, so I just told him 'you are a good player and you are strong and aggressive as well'. 'So you either prove them right or you prove yourself right'. If you keep playing the way you are, then maybe you will prove them right. Sometimes motivation comes from other people running their mouth. Thankfully I think he proved himself right and proved his critics wrong.

"I said at half time I didn't recognise these boys in the first 45 minutes," added Chapman. "Emotions can sometimes affect a performance, they are only human. I thought we were very indecisive, no-one was taking responsibility. I had to remind them of what they are here for. We changed it round a bit, and went for a bit of width, and I'm pleased for Mark Burbridge, his determination to succeed is fantastic. He turned the game in our favour."

Also showing fighting spirit to claim a draw on Saturday were Queen's Park, Anton Brady and a Morgyn Neill own goal salvaging a draw after Ryan Thomson and Grant Anderson had netted for Stranraer. "The spirit at this club has never been in doubt," said manager Gus MacPherson. "Credit to them because they stuck at it and got the equaliser."

Albion Rover boss Britan Kerr said his team had bounced back from last year's loss to Aidrie with their 2-0 win at ten-man Forfar, courtesy of Alan Trouten and Connor Shields. "My team really responded in style after last week's defeat by Airdrie."