Barney Rubble

Some very good additions to the squad so far, but what's clearly evident is that not one of the new recruits is a solid and reliable defensive midfielder. That's a gaping hole that needs addressed as a matter of urgency.

That's harsh in my opinion. There were plenty opportunities after that for that move to have been killed - yes I'm looking at you Bannigan, Williams and Muirhead. Dowds was the least of the issues in that instance.

This is the crux of the matter for me. More so because after the change of shape to 4-4-2 the ball rarely went up front anyway. so maintaining the 4-2-3-1 would have been more sensible especially given the disruption to the back four following Jack's substitution. Yesterday was not a pre-season game when you can try things and damn the result of the game. It was the first league game and that level of unnecessary disruption was asking for trouble, and sadly for us it duly arrived. Fair play to KD for admitting that his strategy backfired though. 2 defeats in 26 competitive games is a record to be proud of for any manager. Long may he continue to achieve that level of performance for the Jags.

Don't beat yourself up about it. It's a fiver a pint most places these days. It's the best 300 quid you'll piss away this year.

That one is squarely on KD. Changing the formation when there was no need to, and changing the central defence when there was no need to was the root cause of their comeback. I assume McMillan going off was due to the effects of lack of minutes recently. Understandable, but if so, why move Wasiri out to RB thereby upsetting the balance of the rest of the defence? Also, switching to 4-4-2 meant taking McInroy - who was very good in the centre - out wide right where he was less effective. Using only one of Tomi or Anton would have maintained the shape, particularly after disrupting the back four as above. No clean sheets in five games, of which three against lower league opposition, is manifest proof that Docherty has not been adequately replaced and that's a major concern defensively.

That's a wonderful tribute - well done to the club and to whoever composed it. In addition, I hadn't realised that Shaun Rooney was Benny's great-nephew.

Was informed of this sad news at the game yesterday. Like Craig Brown, one of Scottish football's good guys. RIP Benny.

Sorted! Horst Hrubesch will be allowed a free shot at goal in the tenth minute.

Regarding the game, as Fawlty Towers says, objective achieved, so all due praise to the players and the management team for sticking to the task and getting us through. Doolan's team does seem to be developing a mental strength that wasn't in evidence before his appointment. Thought today's performance followed a remarkably similar pattern to last week's whereby the opposition keeper was rarely tested in the first half and nothing much fell for us in the second half until outstanding ball control by Stevie Lawless from a not great Harry Milne cross set Zander McKenzie up to cross for a deft finish from James Lyon. Immediately after the goal we did exactly the same as last week - sat back and let the opposition back into the game rather than pass the ball about for a while to tire them out. Their equaliser was a shocker. Needless goal kick from Mitchell to Milne which was impossible to control, and from the resultant throw, McKenzie was posted missing to allow an unperturbed cross to Henderson. No shut-outs in a group with two bottom league sides has to be a source of concern going into the serious business of the league next weekend. Fair play to Brian Graham for taking responsibility at the penalty. Would have been easy to shirk that one to Aero, but he clearly wanted to get a monkey off his back and did so in some style. Delighted to qualify from this group, even if we did so in a typically unpredictable fashion.

I believe the rule is that if a half starts with the floodlights on then it must remain that way for the entire half. If that is the case, then it has to be assumed that today's referee asked for them to be turned on before the beginning of the game. Not sure how that rule works in reverse. If a half starts with no floodlights and the conditions worsen, then the logic of that rule dictates that the half should be completed without floodlights.

Let's keep it simple. Beat Spartans and we're through.

Ah, of course!! That fits!!

Who? Don't recall anyone of that name playing for the Jags, unless I'm going senile (which is quite possible). Edited following clarification that you meant Lyle Taylor, and that Graham Dorrans was indeed loaned from Livingston.

We'll agree to disagree on the first goal - Any goalkeeper able to do the alternative you suggest with that shot yesterday would be playing in La Liga or the EPL next month. Either way, he certainly did not muck up. Agree with you on the second goal.

Fair point Ancipital - thanks for clarifying the permutations.

While respecting your opinion, Sneddon's was clearly a reflex/reaction save - he had zero chance of being able to control the rebound which McIver reacted to more quickly than the flat footed Muirhead.

Today was a better test that Dundee Utd ever was. McGlynn did his homework and had his team well organised and up for the challenge. Thistle, on the other hand, started insipidly, and were lacking penetration of any sort in the first half hour. Period before half-time was better with one outstanding run from Fitzpatrick and a very good shot from Stanway. Better pressure in the second half without anything really falling for us until the red card. After Graham's goal the sensible strategy would have been to spend a few minutes keeping possession and stretching the ten men from wing to wing to wear them down. Instead we went gung-ho and got caught out by an out ball that should never have happened. Fair play to the team for even managing to get it to penalties thanks to Jamie Lyon's outstanding strike (he was the one total success on the day). Milne's touch was all over the map today (playing when not fully fit maybe?), Sneddon was blameless for the first goal (did well to even see the shot, let alone keep it out), but was questionable on the second. Fitzpatrick had a very decent second half, but overall the team lacked fizz today against a side who can consider themselves unlucky not to have seen out the win. Thankfully for us the point means we are still masters of our own destiny next Saturday.

No. From what I've seen - and others here will have seen more of him than I have - he looks best suited to a right midfield role.

Docherty and Holt were outstanding signings for Thistle. Both gave nothing less that their all and that should be recognised as such.

An achievement tonight. Well done to Kris and everyone else involved. We are certainly going in the right direction under Kris Doolan.

There are many reasons why folk may not be able to attend games at Firhill. Every one of them will be legitimate. Not one of them requires anyone to be answerable to you.

Sorry, this rhetoric is beyond tedious. We missed FOUR (count them) highly scoreable chances to avoid a penalty shoot out. In short, we ran out of feet to shoot ourselves in. Accept that it happened, and make peace with it.

Really impressed with KD's approach to date. Took over an underachieving squad and in 18 games took us us on a major journey, which by very small margins could have been successful. Love the way he articulates himself - assets and strategy and thereafter tactics. Plus sports science. We've got a gem here, and we should appreciate him.

Of the three, Docherty may well be the hardest to replace. No coincidence either that results fell off a cliff after he got crocked at Aberdeen. His reading of the game and his work off the ball has been a major reason why we were able to mount the end of season challenge. Not a flashy player, but the work he does will never be underestimated by his fellow players. Banzo may well find that out next season depending on who comes in. Turner's potential only brought regular fruit (dead balls apart) once Doolan came in and started playing him regularly in a position that best suited his skills, unlike McCall who in 18 months singularly failed to build a midfield around him. Bizarrely, Turner improved the team even further when Banzo's injury v Queens Park required him into a deeper role from which Tiffoney and Fitzpatrick benefitted.

Keep in mind our players only finished their season fourteen days ago. Many - if not all - have been away for some thoroughly deserved holiday with their families during that time period. I would expect to see developments begin to filter through after tomorrow.