Andy_P

I just wish there were as many Cup Final wins to reflect upon as there have been 'Stevie Woods is the worst keeper in the world. Ever' threads. See you again in six months Stevie!

Fair points all but you've got me with the part in bold. By all accounts a home fixture against either can garner a significant sum. It would be especially so if God forbid one of them had the chance to win the title on our hallowed turf. Perhaps you're making the assumption that we wouldn't get another home game against either but it wouldn't be the first time we've had 3 fixtures at home against one team, or three away for that matter so that may not be the case, however slim.

Ahh the 1985 Semi Final. We were in the East terrace because they were doing Hampden up at the time and only half that end had been completed. I was in the enclosure at the front of the Main Stand, young enough not to quite fully comprehend the magnitude of the occasion but the angst of the Motherwell support around me when Graeme Forbes late header flashed past the post has never been forgotten!

We should definitely push for the East Stand. The comparison between East Stand for the Semi Final and West Stand for the Final was night and day. Off at Polmadie, few hundred yards along the road and the bus is parked up and you're in the Montford Arms, pint in hand in less than 5 minutes after coming off the motorway. Contrast that to the pissing about at the Final, going right past the cut off at Polmadie, spending the next half an hour stuck in traffic jams and doing a near full circuit of Hampden was murder and definitely impinged upon the pre-game build up.

Quite a day! I know Robinson was referring to McHugh when he made his remark about it being the stuff dreams are made of, but hey let's be honest was that finale not the kind of thing you sit and while a moment or two away daydreaming about when the situation allows? It was a terrific first half throughout which we were well on top. I can't say I felt that any apprehension that we were only one goal up, although the failure of McHugh to shoot, or put through one of his team-mates did appear an opportunity lost. From what I've read and heard by the letter of the law it would appear Dallas has been correct to disallow Cadden's goal. Clearly immense credit is due for the way he came to his decision in the blink of an eye. Despite having plenty more time to aid his decision making however he was well off the mark with several other of his calls. It seemed incomprehensible for example that yellow cards were being issued instantly to those in claret and amber whilst their opponents appeared to enjoy the luxury of being able to foul, be spoken to, foul a bit more and still avoid action. Second half was altogether more tricky and the tie did seem to be slipping away from us for a time. Again by all accounts it would appear that Dallas got the penalty correct. I am absolutely convinced however that by fair means or fouls Naismith was hitting the deck in the box no matter what kind of challenge Kipre made. Carson making his weekly jaw-dropper seemed to change the momentum slightly. I don't know if you could say it was a wake up call or whether down to the tweak in formation but at the very least we were giving as good as we were getting. It was a fitting way to win any Cup tie and I'm pleased for McHugh. He has been much like himself since the turn of the year in particular and even goal apart he did very well in putting in such a comitted and disciplined performance despite being booked so early. A bit different to how we won our Quarter Final earlier in the season, nowhere as emphatic but still a game that will live equally long in the memory.

Ha ha ha. Look! There's a bandwagon I see before me! Wonder if I can jump on it. Good try though.

Your thoughts and votes please folks...

I'm taking it away a little from the Hearts game but I disagree to an extent. I don't think we were terrible or crap in that Accies game at all, well not until Dallas intervened and changed the course of the game with the debatable penalty decision that gave Hamilton a lifeline from nowhere. Until that point we were looking in control and if not spectactular were solid enough. And that wasn't the first time Dallas has had a negative impact on proceedings. The thought has struck me in the past what with his father's supposed leanings, however partial, towards Motherwell that subconsciously he feels he has to go the extra mile to demonstrate there is no bias towards Motherwell and it sometimes manifests itself in him being overly picky on us. Completely agree that the team need to disregard who the referee and focus fully on the performance but as supporters there are several officials out there when appointed you immediately think "hmmmm,....okay". Dallas is one of them.

I could well be wrong but I read it as them now having the full South Stand rather than impinging upon the POD. South Stand holds approx. 4800 so the additional tickets would take them to broadly that figure. In terms of the restricted view seats I can't recollect which set of away fans it was but I do recollect some comment that from the some seats in the front row of the top tier that you can't actually see the touchline or the full goalmouth.

There was an instance around 7 or 8 years ago where they took the decision to cancel a full card because of the weather. I can't recollect whether that was solely down to the weather or whether travel was a factor. I generally miss the first game in December due to a commitment in London each year and I was thoroughly delighted when the news came through!

That's a new one on me I must admit, but then I also appear to have missed the bit (I think it was steelboy who referred to it) where the TV fee for being shown live had dropped by something like £50k so I'm not doubting that's the case. I've heard that referred to occasionally in English top flight games and seen it evidenced, for example when a team from the south happen to play midweek at Newcastle for, where there are sections of empty seats in the away section but never in Scotland. It raises a question about how they could do that, unless the full Hearts allocation is all-ticket, but I would like to think we're not going to be taking an obstructive position of denying visiting fans the opportunity to buy on the day. It also makes me wonder is it a rule only applicable then to Scottish Cup games. I don't really get it I must be honest.

I think it's one of those, you can PATG arrangements but should you wish to pick/reserve your ST seat you can purchase in advance.

I saw that on Twitter and a related discusion involving some of the broadsheet jouranlists who think quite highly of themselves. A couple of things came to mind though. Why would we give them an initial allocation of 3500 when the South Stand holds 4800? Even allowing for the potential for the last two blocks at the front to be cordoned for segregration or that they still haven't got the amber coloured seats in, that seems and odd figure. The scribes who visit Fir Park every week( clearly) attempted to suggest we open the back tier of the South Stand as standard in preference to the front because it was cheaper when in reality that only happens in exceptional circumstances and generally weather related. There was a presumption that Hearts would go on to sell out and Motherwell would be faced with a dilemma about handing over a wing of the POD Stand and being outnumbered by Hearts fan. I'm sure most people couldn't give a shit if we were outnumbered by Jambos as long as all 'Well fans who wish to be there can do so, suitably segregated.....and we pump them! But aye, the more of them the merrier both for atmosphere, adding to the sense of occasion and for boosting the kitty.

Your thoughts and votes please...

Mark Brown? Might not have been so keen a fan after his only season with the club mind you...

I know you didn't. That's why I acknowledged, your acknowledgement. If you see what I mean...

Not so much related to your post, you've already acknowledged your consideration for the MOTM award, but I do have a little sympathy for McHugh currently. He's currently in that place (where Andy Rose was biding up until recently) where all he needs to do is make *one* bad pass and that's enough for some folk to decide he was rotten and to write off his contribution in a game.

A little unlucky to lose today I think. We didn't do enough to win certainly but a point would not have been undeserved had we managed to snatch a leveller. That's two on the bounce we've lost to Killie and on each occasion we've been culpable for the goal that has ultimately won them the three points. It was a curious game in several respects. With Frear, Cadden, Tanner, Cifti and Main all involved from the word go it's perhaps as adventurous a starting line up as Robinson has selected thus far this season. Arguably we perhaps left ourselves with little scope for real change later in the game but given that we dominated much of the ninety minutes I'm torn whether Robinson was right or wrong to go full pelt from the start. It was a pretty entertaining first half all round, albeit we went in behind. Killie had had their chances with a bright opening five minutes in particular and the double block but when they scored it seemed quite against the run of play. Disappointing that it came from a misplaced lay off from Main but difficult to contest it was a terrific strike nonetheless. As for us we never really made McDonald work overly hard, a theme that would continue for the whole game. Some lovely build up play, good switching of play and generally playing a lot more football than in many games but not really clear cut chances. Without having seen it back at first glance it seemed incredible that the foul against Cifti did not result in a penalty. We've seen him go to ground fairly easily in certain challenges and perhaps that has gone against him but it seemed so obvious a foul that it folk around us were incredulous at McLean allowing play to continue. We looked somewhat deflated after conceding but regrouped at half-time and went on to dominate the second half almost entirely. What we didn't really do was threaten and in fairness Killie dealt with everything we were threw at them fairly comfortably. We certainly didn't help ourselves with what was some extremely wasteful use of the numerous set-pieces that came our way throughout the whole game. Certainly a good bit of work required on both delivery and execution. The scoreline is additionally disappointing given it pretty much ends our chase for a top half place but there will still some positives to take. Result apart it was a generally decent performance against much lauded opposition. I certainly saw a lot more football played and a better performance today than in some of the games we've won this season. I had kind of hoped that Dundee were imploding after their midweek loss to Kilmarnock but it seems not given their recovery today. It's going to be more difficult than I might have hoped but next Saturday gives us a good opportunity to get back to winning ways and put a good bit of distance between us and them.

Your thoughts and votes please...

That's just nonsense! You've clearly forgotten to add Craig Levein, Dave McPherson, Ian Baird and Jimmy Sandison to your list...

One of his earliest games with us springs to mind. A Sunday game at Killie where if I remember rightly he headed back across goal for Blackman to score.

Looking at the fixtures I tend to think you might be right. With the Old Firm and St Johnstone in Perth as our pre-split finale at first glance it doesn't appear the easiest of run-ins and if we have any aspirations of a top half finish you would want to accumulate as many points as you possibly can ahead of those games. You would also want to, in fact scrub that, you really have take advantage of the opportunity that comes with facing a direct competitor on your home patch such as Kilmarnock on Saturday. Failure to do so is going to leave us with a lot to do in some very tricky fixtures.

I know we had a memorable win against them not long after Billy Davies took charge but well Quarter Final. Game at Fir Park. The John Gardiner Quarter Final must be avenged!!!!!

That may be our turn out today you're referring to but the point being made was that the stand didin't hold around 3000. It does.

A well deserved win over the piece. I wouldn't go so far as to say we rode our luck at any stage but on several occasions we were pretty close to the game going on a different path from how it panned out with Carson making a couple of excellent saves and Dundee being wasteful with their opportunities. Still unclear as to why Aldred's goal was chopped off. He surely didn't chalk it off for dangerous play did he? Kipre seemed to be onside. Shame as it was an excellent finish. I think we certainly benefited from questionable goalkeeping for our opener but as the old saying goes if you never buy a ticket you won't win a raffle. By then Cifti should really have had us ahead. It was one of those occasions where it looked so certain his header was going you'd almost starting celebrating, only to see the ball emerge at the other side of the post. They looked like they were going to make it more of a contest in the early part of the second and we had Carson to thank with his now typical weekly sensational save before we got the second at a pretty crucial stage. The momentum they had been building was just shattered in an instant and we were generally very comfortable in seeing the game out thereafter. Delighted to progress, to get the clean sheet and another slightly different type of goal again from Curtis Main.It is nowhere near a case of "Louis who?" but I think it's remarkable that Main has bedded in so quickly and so seamlessly in terms of replacing not only his goals but work-rate and presence across the pitch. A good day!!