Lord Rosebury

Jackie had a big surprise in store for Jim Jefferies today. I'm sure Dunfermline manager would have been expecting us to go 4-3-3and play our usual patient passing game; however the 442 and a more direct approach really caught them cold. Jackie got the tactics bang on.

Thought he was class today. Looked a lot sharper and fitter.

Lol. Ok then... forum moaning about the bar ten minutes before the biggest game and crowd in years... There's always something eh?

The team humps our nearest rivals 5-1 and yer moaning about the bar service!!! Yer having a laugh!

I think Jackie will have considered starting Slane tomorrow. They'll know our team inside out by now, but they don't know Slane. If he does come him I would expect Erskine to drop into the the Welsh role.

Did Slane play wide or through the middle?

I like the 433- it suits our players and helps our fluent style; however, we are now up against teams who know how to play against us. When a team stands off and sits in its own half it means that Erskine and Lawless- in a 433- can't find space and are not as effective. In a 442 Erskine and Lawless would be a little deeper and wider- this would help to draw out the opposition and stretch the packed defence, hopefully leaving gaps to exploit. I wouldn't be suprised if we started using it in certain games.

Archie's last game was against Morton- where we lost two identical headed goals from corner kicks. In fact, we looked vulnerable from set pieces all game. He also looked a bit 'leggy' against the pace of Campbell that day. Conrad is very good in the air and it's no coincidence that we have looked more solid at set pieces since he came in. Balatoni to play with Paton as captain.

Thought we were our usual excellent selves up until the sending off- although starting 442 may have affected our fluency just a little ( I wonder if we'll set up this way next week?). The most disappointing aspect of the first half was not taking a few of the numerous early chances and this made the game more difficult than it should have been. I thought we actually played very few long balls considering we were down to ten players (fewer options) and Cove started to press rather than stand off us.

Disagree.

A tight, bumpy pitch, plus the fact we went 442- I assume to help Bannigan cover the Cowden right winger McKenzie- meant our fluid style was hampered. Nevertheless a deserved victory against difficult opponents.

I thought Erskine was causing them plenty of problems and it should have been Lawless taken off- who , after a good first half faded a bit. Not too desponded - before the sending off we were by far the better team.

Graham Smith- ex killie, Rangers and St Mirren.

It has to be the old Bobby Law classic.

I don't think there's been any transformation. He was a decent right back- one of our best players when we came second a couple of years ago. I think he's now found a position where he can peform exceptionally well, rather than just well.

He's not done anything to warrent a 'sniff' . In the competitive and friendly games he has played in, he's been rather poor.

He reminds me a bit of Billy Bremner- if I can remember that far back. Future captain? I just hope we can keep him at Firhill.

I don't think Elliot will go out on loan. When we are trying to close down a game, especially away from home, his ability to press the opposition, when they're are trying to build attacks, is a very handy option to have.

Players that try to be positive and make things happen ,like Chris, are always liable to give the ball away more than players who just try to retain possession , like Shug Murray. If he was solely losing possesion and not making things happen there would be a problem. But thankfully that's not the case!!!! His goals yesterday were of a quality rarely seen in the first division. Love the guy. Players like Chris should be given full support.

Really ? Our worst peformance? I thought some of the football we played especially in the second half was tremendous; very fluid especially the 3 goals. We were poorer against Hamilton.

Out of interest, did Doolan actually score whilst at Clyde. I don't think his record was that good whilst there.

Anybody notice that we had to change the ball after about 25 mins? It was shaped like an egg and not running at all smoothly on our lovely,flat, green pitch. This may account, in part, for the fact it took us a while to get our passing game going.

Loved the back heel from Chris Erskine to set up Steven Lawless in the second half.

Nae sense of humour, right enough.

More underhand dealings: http://blogs.channel...ngers-vote/2201