partickthedog

Had them camped in their own box several times. Looks like we will need a lucky break of the ball as that flash of inspiration is not coming.

Blair Spittal our most likely player today. How referee only added 3 minutes for 2 major injury delays plus incessant time wasting from Minute 1 beats me.

I think it goes back to the first day of the erstwhile North (now John Lambie) Stand when 2 quick goals against Falkirk launched our charge to the First Division title. That is all history now and I too would prefer to see us attacking the JLS end in the second half. By the way, if the game goes to extra time, is the third "half" always played the same way as the first half, or could we switch it then?

This is my team, dependent on all players selected being fully fit and fully committed. Any doubts on either score would mean changes. Cerny Elliott, Barton, Cargill, Dumbuya McCarthy, Osman Spittal, Erskine, Lawless Doolan Substitutes: Scully, McGinn, Penrice, Woods, Edwards, Sammon, Storey In brief explanation: 1) McGinn has done little wrong, but Elliott brings heart and history to the table in such a vital fixture. Extra height and running power may also be helpful. 2) I know that Barton is better at sweeper, but an excess of defenders sends out a wrong message, and I do not want to lose out on a forward midfield player. Would also prefer not to have to play Devine. Barton and Cargill give more hope of some constructive running and passing from defence, rather than hoofball. 3) Booth would normally be my left back of choice, but he did seem tentative on Thursday, and maybe lacked fitness. We need some pace in the team and Muzzy can supply this. He put in a brilliant showing on the left up against Josh Magennis at Rugby Park when we clinched safety two seasons ago. Does he have it in him to give us one last performance? May also be a surprise package to Livingston, due to his comparative invisibility in recent months. 4) Woods was not great on Thursday. Osman brings more height and would be good at dropping back to fill gaps if any of the back 4 come forward (which they should be encouraged to do). 5) McCarthy can find a pass. 6) Spittal has been decent in his recent substitute appearances. Our forward players will hopefully draw free kicks and he can capitalise. 7) Erskine, Lawless and Doolan go without saying, but need fast service to feet. Final Comments: A--Cerny and his defenders must be much more switched on as regards quick recycling of the ball to feet, to avoid yet more punting high in the air to Livingston's strength. If we keep trying to recycle possession, even if Livingston move quickly to cover, they will eventually tire themselves out with such extra high pressing, and we can take advantage in extra time. B--Keep Edwards & Sammon on bench to avoid early frantic running about/high balls to striker. Edwards certainly to come on by early second half to inject fresh energy and pace where needed. Sammon will likely be required to replace one of the forward players (and to take a penalty!). If we avoid injuries and can make a 3rd substitution of choice, Storey's speed should be effective, especially if the game stretches into extra time.

Or 5 times if Dools scores a hat trick in an 8 goal romp.

My normal optimism, badly dented by last night's abject performance, has now returned. No particularly objective reason for this, but it sure beats pessimism. Somehow we have to keep the ball on the ground and overcome what seemed to be an irresistible temptation to kick it as high as possible into the air. I am not a technical wizard, but could we install some suction pads into the undersoil heating system which would drag the ball back down if it threatened to go too high. That would eliminate a good proportion of the Livingston repertoire. Lithgow , Miller and Gallacher would stumble to their knees. Erskine, Lawless and Doolan would run riot

Surprised that with all the criticism being thrown at the players and the mangement team, the one person truly responsible is being let off lightly. Personally I blame Douglas Clark. He should be nowhere near the team sheet or even the match thread for Sunday.

Definitely Cargill. He can be quite good at well directed low passes into the attacking midfield area. One to Chris Erskine which set up the move for Stevie Lawless to score against St Johnstone is a good example. However, last night, apart from the one ball to Doolan and a strong driving run towards the end, he was generally reduced to the same aimless high punts as the rest of the back line.

Got to bring on Douglas Clark.

You are absolutely right. To try to rescue my point, when we played the pre-Clark Killie at the beginning of this season, I did not notice Stephen as having any major impact on the game. People called Clark seem to be featuring in every thread!

No great argument with your team (though if Keown fit, would prefer him to Devine), but I would like to add the bench: Ryan Scully Christie Elliott Martin Keown/Danny Devine Abdul Osman Blair Spittal Conor Sammon Douglas Clark

Praising Steve Clark for everything good in the world has become a national pastime (the sun is shining today-thanks Steve), but as regards Stephen O'Donnell's recent form it would seem to be fully justified. Last season I hardly noticed him when he played for Killie against us, and he was certainly not pulling up any trees. In the last few months he has been sensational, both in scoring and creating goals. He has put in some excellent crosses and has mastered the art of the long low shot that gathers speed off the Rugby Park surface (would be a daisycutter if they had any daisies). Will never forget his classic goal at Tannadice. The volley from the wing at Ross County (which effectively secured our safety that season) and the cheeky finish after materialising on the left wing in the 5-1 v Dunfermline were pretty special as well.

Agreed. After his brilliant turn to set up Abdul's winner at St Johnstone (and giving himself a central role in the celebration photograph), his last 6 months or so were something of a damp squib.

Craig Thomson seems to exude arrogance and self-satisfaction, but unfortunately does not appear to have the ability as a referee to justify either of these traits.

David Amoo had a fairly decent goal return in his first season and a bit, though the goals then dried up as he had less time on the pitch. He was surprisingly adept at scoring with his head (which he did far more often than Conor Sammon) and had a striker's feel for getting on the end of rebounds in the box and forcing the ball over the line. At the start of the 2015-2016 season, we had a run of numerous games without scoring and it was Amoo's header which brought us back to 2-1 down at Motherwell that finally convinced the team that they were able to put the ball in the net and brought a glimmer of hope to the fans. His header to give us the lead in the next game at Firhill against Dundee United was pivotal in kickstarting our season and sending United sliding towards the relegation trapdoor.

But is Storey a reliable enough finisher to play through the middle? I can appreciate the Doolan/Sammon debate, but both have a reasonable record of putting the ball in the net (or at least on target) when a chance is presented to them. Storey has managed a great goal against St Johnstone and a well-timed arrival and efficient despatch against Dundee. Even from his usually wide position a fair measure of central chances have been served up to him (eg v Dundee on Saturday) and he has often mishit or dragged his shots wide.

Any relation of Steve Clark?

As some have been accusing the team of being spineless, the player we need is... ...Gerry Britton, the King of Spine.

We all dream of a team of Douglas Clark Number 1 is Douglas Clark etc

Am agreeing with the 2 above posts. For all sorts of reasons, this a Doolan, Erskine, Lawless game. They have all scored great goals at Livingson as well.

Which coloured house are you going to?

Because Google Chrome is the installed browser on my PC and it works for everything else. I never like trying to install some other browser in case I get it wrong and cause some unfixable problem! My point, and it seems to receive backing from others, is that the Club should find a system that makes it as easy as possible for people to transact with it. I am so Thistle daft that I will always find a way to buy a ticket and be at the game. Others may be put off more easily. I buy numerous items online without ever having to interact on the telephone. I do not need to phone Amazonia to purchase something from Amazon.

Good shout for a game at Livingston. Remember that absolute cracker he scored there... ...and the humour bypassed linesman who tried to stop him celebrating. Doolan, Erskine, Lawless and Elliott have all found the net for Thistle there as well.

Incontrovertibly vertebrate.