Crossword Genius

Difficult situation of maiden facing anger (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mire

'difficult situation' is the definition.

'maiden facing anger' is the wordplay.
'maiden' becomes 'm' (cricket abbreviation).
'facing' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'anger' becomes 'ire' ('ire' can be a synonym of 'anger'**).
'm'+'ire'='MIRE'

'of' is the link.

(Other definitions for mire that I've seen before include "Soft mud or dirt" , "Bog down in swamp" , "Mud - bog" , "Cause to get stuck (in soft mud?)" , "Emir found in mud" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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