Ya Bezzer!

Always tough for goalkeepers to break through though at the best of times. Also he's not tall. In fact if you look at who's been kept on and who's been released you can definitely see a trend there. Max Currie 5'10, Steve Higgins 5'9, Liam Anderson 5'8, Craig McCall 5'5, all out. Meanwhile everyone kept on is at least 6'0. I hope that's not the way we are going and it's just a coincidence because I think that's a pretty retrogressive way to promote youth players.

Kilmarnock have conceded at least 2 goals in their last 6 league matches and at least 3 in their last 3 league matches. Not the worst bet in the world.

You might want to look at this thread. http://www.steelmenonline.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=14598

If we beat Killie, they are then away to Partick, while we play St. Mirren who will be officially relegated. Then Kilmarnock and Ross County play each other and we have a home match. I'm honestly much more confident now about catching Kilmarnock than I ever was about catching Partick and Ross County a few weeks earlier. Not saying we are dead certs to escape the play offs but by some weird twist of fate, I think it's more likely. We will know our fate later tonight.

I'd be happy to have egg on my face if he became a free scoring striker for Motherwell. In any case, I've never said he had no potential but my main problem with Erwin is that we shouldn't try to develop that potential at the expense of our top flight status.

They give clubs like ours massive publicity, publicity other businesses would have to pay literally millions of pounds to get on an annual basis. That's why 'this man' gets the free parking space and free entry and - gasp - probably a free pie and tea as well. I don't have time for the Record, I've not read the piece, it may well be utter bollocks, but if that's what the guy thinks so be it. He's allowed to give his opinion and I'd rather that than a situation where the club was signing off Pravda style puff pieces for the media. If the media served no purpose the club wouldn't put up with them but they do because they do serve a purpose. So you'll just need to put up with them as well.

QoS started the season slowly and then came on to a game, the opposite of Rangers who's best form was at the beginning of the season. Roughly bore out by the results between the teams, Rangers won the first tie 4-2, since then QoS haven drawn one and won two with the last being a 3-0 win for QoS. Rangers finished 7 points ahead of QoS but QoS had a dead rubber match on the last game of the season against Livingston, something Rangers didn't have, even so it was 19 wins for Rangers to 17 wins for QoS, not much difference. Over the last ten matches of the season Hibs had the best form with 24 points, Rangers and QoS both had 20 points but QoS played Rangers twice and Hibs once and won 2 and drew 1 of those matches. Really I think there is very little between any of those teams and I wouldn't want to predict what team will get to the final. The things that maybe swings it a little in QoS favour is that they have a very good home record and will play all their home ties first, giving them an advantage if they can win them and they have won 6 out of the last 7 at home. Also QoS have the better head to head record against both Hibs and Rangers. So in terms of quality of opposition I don't really see any big advantage or disadvantage from playing any of those teams. For me the considerations we need to consider are else where - such as the consequences of dropping down a league, or playing on a plastic pitch or against a team where the pressure of being favourites is on us. I'd put it this simply - would you fancy taking on this Rangers team over two matches or would you rather risk taking on next seasons Rangers over a whole season? For me that is an easy answer because I doubt they will get worse next term. Bring them on.

Kilmarnock have not been in the relegation zone all season. Suddenly if we win on Friday they are in deep trouble with 7 losses on the trot, only 3 points off a play off spot with more difficult fixtures than us. I fancy Kilmarnock to shit the bed but as you say there is no point looking beyond the next match. We have to do the business because this really is the must win match.

If we'd replicated the form of the last couple of months over the season we'd have been safe. We are still falling short in matches but to suggest we've not improved is just wrong. Not suggesting for a moment we are world beaters, there's a lot that could be improved further, but 4 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats from the last 9 matches isn't that bad.

Queen of the South is the worst possible scenario. 1) All the pressure is on us to beat the 'wee' team 2) First leg on a plastic pitch 3) QoS have excellent home record 4) QoS have very good record against 'big' teams. Won head to heads against Hibs and Rangers this season. 5) Best striker duo in the Championship this season (Lyle and Reilly) 6) If they beat us we go down into a Championship with Hibs and Rangers.

Do you think we'll never win a game again? Because that's your logic. We've not won any of 3 matches, therefore we cannot win.

St. Mirren's recent results St. Johnstone A L 0-2 Celtic H L 0-2 Motherwell A L 0-5 Ross County H L 0-3 Kilmarnock H W 4-1 Partick Thistle A L 0-3 Says it all.

Hammell, came in, did well, looked solid and he didn't fade in the later stages like you might have expected. Unlike Johnson,by the way, who is out of puff after an hour most games.

McDonald scored today. Our bunch of self flagellants hate anyone that can actually give us a fighting chance of winning a game. McDonald was half great, half poor today. I guess inconsistent is the word that covers it but you can hardly complain about something coming into a struggling team and scoring 4 from 9.

Kilmarnock have lost 6 on the trot and haven't won away from home since 1st Jan. What's unrealistic about thinking we might win, not even will win, might win? Sometimes I wonder if people on here actually watch any football. Just look at the play off final last season. Can you imagine what the cynics would have said if we went into an away leg 2-0 down? Probably the same we are hearing from them now. And there are a million other examples of very unlikely things happening in football matches. It's football, anything can happen, and until it can't happen that's the way it will stay.

And you and everyone you love will die. Better not have any hopes or dreams eh?

Yeah it's embarrassing to think a team undefeated at home in 7 can beat a team in freefall and go 3 points behind with two matches to play. No one is saying we aren't favourites to finish 11th but what about SUPPORTING THE TEAM while there is still a chance we can get out of this? Radical eh?

Started decent today and thought we deserved to take the lead and we looked comfortable Then Long spilled a shot and we got a bit jittery at the back again. Dunno what O'Brien was doing for the goal. Just another bad personal mistake. Second half I felt we were lacking a bit. Didn't look really motivated or up for it and County came more into the match. Having said that we still probably should won the game on chances created. Looked like we should have had a penalty as well. But we lacked composure in the last third, poor corners and set pieces, poor shooting, poor decision making. Congratulations to Stevie Hammell though for coming back after a long time out and putting in a real good shift. Unbelievable we have another crack at the cherry on Friday. Only lost 1 in our last 7 home matches so it's still on but next week REALLY IS a 'must win'.

I'm really fucking tired of our manic depressive fans wanting to cut the teams throat when there is everything still to play for. They are obviously miseries that don't actually want to escape the play off or relegation just so they can wallow in self pity. Really poor turn out today and the ground was sweetie wrappers for most of the game. People are always going on about the team throwing the towel in but our support is just as bad if not worse.

Long Law O'Brien McManus Hammell Grant Lasley Johnson Pearson McDonald Erwin Think that's how it will be.

To be honest I agree with the SPFL here even though it could potential cost me dough. Hibs sold season tickets on the basis that play off matches would be included, before the SPFL was formed. The rules are as they stand mean Motherwell should abide by the rules. Frankly all rules changes should be between the end of May and the beginning of August. The rules at the beginning of the season should stand at the end of the season.

Laing either isn't going to play or is going to play, be clearly unfit and then hobble off after 25 minutes.

Grant has been worse than useless out on the left. Looks completely uncomfortable there. The problem with that idea is we don't really have anyone that can play wide midfield with a defensive mindset, unless you maybe double up the full backs Hammell/Straker on one side Ramsden/Law on the other. If you go 4-3-3 you still leave space down the wings and it doesn't really solve anything. If you want to shore up midfield you really need to drop a forward rather than a winger to give you a spare man in the middle..

I think it was Jim Goodwin (lets blame him anyway) that stole a few yards at a free kick, then picked it up and throw it forward 2 or 3 yards, then picked it up again and threw it forward 2 or 3 yards and then did it a third time! Probably took the free kick about 15 yards from where it should have been. Not saying these things should be taken from the exact spot but the pitch is only a 100 yards long. Come one!

ESPN for individual player performance stats, things like saves, assists, shots on and off target etc.