Ya Bezzer!

On paper we both play 4-3-3 so can match up although in reality Rangers play a 4-2-3 (with Lundstram effectively a man down) while we play a 4-0-3 (nuff said!)

Goss did put in a great cross for the goal. Didn't do anything else right enough but at least it was important. I kind of alluded to it last night but when we were bringing the ball out from the back it was always Tony Watt that was showing for the ball. Not one of the midfielders. I wouldn't be surprised if our midfield in the first half had a record low number of touches.

Exactly. Referee's are making up the result. Within about 5 seconds of kick off Madden blew for a nothing foul. One of those guys where it's ALL about him.

Nick Walsh.

Thought the St Mirren penalty was soft at the time and having seen the highlights has only confirmed that. Penalty retake is just nonsense. Then on top of that we should have had a 2nd penalty. So that's THREE penalty decisions the officials have got wrong. Don't care how bad we've played the officials need to get game changing decisions correct and they have failed, 1, 2 , 3 times tonight. Also not the first time we've suffered from terrible decision making at penalty claims this season. You could make a pretty long list 11 matches into the season.

I think these stats need some kind of context. For instance 23 shots when it's Curtis Main hitting them at that same chair in the south stand that he always did, well, that isn't a big issue. Most of St Mirren's efforts on goal were comfortable for Kelly. There was one swerving effort in the first half and the one he made a great save of at the end and that was about it. I will say thought that while not very good, St Mirren were better than us in possession of the ball. Our midfield was virtually anonymous as usual.

At least there was some excitement in the 2nd half, the 1st half was like pouring Draino in your eyes. Most of the big talking points in the game I didn't get a great view off so I'll probably wait untilI see the highlights. Fantastic save right at the end though by Kelly and you'd worry about us if Watt gets injured cos outside the back 4 and goalkeeper he's pretty much the whole rest of the team.

Listen I'd gaffer tape Grimshaw to a weather balloon and untether faster than you can say 'Jack Robinson' and I've already said tonight that I'd much rather have Carroll in over McGinley but calm down a bit. It'll be disappointing if we lose tonight but if we take 14 points every round of matches we will be absolutely fine this season. It's hysterical to turn this match into some watershed moment.

Prediction - we won't have the sprinklers on during the warm up.

We scored quite a few headers at the start of the season and a lot of that was down to Carroll's delivery from set pieces and crosses. Since McGinley came in that has completely dried up. Putting any defensive merits aside (which may or may not exist), McGinley really gives you nothing going forward. I'd play Carroll over McGinley too.

Like Ross County? Like Dundee? The fact is we don't have the players to play more football. Never mind succeed playing football. We need to be pragmatic about it until we have midfielders worthy of the term.

We need a wee bit perspective. We've 14 points and we just lost away to high flying Hearts, Dundee Utd and Celtic without getting turned over. Obviously we don't want to go on a bad run that could effect confidence and the performances could be better but that's why this is a more important tie. This is one we should be looking to win where, realistically, we were underdogs in the last three. None of our limited midfielders are going to turn into Modric over night so I think it's a bit knee jerk to change a system that's got us where we are right now but I do think for this match St Mirren's system might cos us some problems.

He got ripped apart against Celtic and kept his place.

Pretty much although I suspect Alexander, given his post match comments, will give the players another chance against St Mirren. St Mirren are coming into form as well, while we seem to be leaving it and in fact St Mirren have only lost to Celtic in 7 away fixtures this season so they obviously like it on the road. As I also mentioned elsewhere St Mirren often play with 6 in midfield which is going to make it difficult if we play a 4-3-3. I think the 'numbers in midfield' idea is a bit simplistic but when you are talking about a 2 to 1 ratio rather than 1 or maybe 2 extra players that's a different story. Finally, St Mirren can leapfrog us if they win (assuming they don't today against Rangers) and that would put us out the Top 6 which would be a bit of a blow. The game isn't going to decide anything but I think it it an important one given our tough looking fixture list it's important to get confidence back up and stay in the Top 6.

You know I love my stats, so I wanted to see where we are in terms of defending crosses into the box, following the Edwards goals. Turns out we aren't that bad and a couple of other teams have much bigger problems there. HEADED GOALS CONCEDED Ross County - 8 Hibernian - 7 Aberdeen - 3 Celtic - 3 St Mirren - 3 Dundee Utd - 2 Hearts - 2 Motherwell - 2 Rangers - 2 Dundee - 1 Livingston - 1 St Johnstone - 1

That was a bit worrying. I mean we weren't as bad as some people are making out but the managers assessment was just as far, if not further than the truth.

And Jordan White missed a penalty for Ross County.

That's a month without picking up a point and team and individual form is on the slid. Big match coming up midweek. We need to arrest this dip as we have some difficult matches coming up Rangers, Hearts, Aberdeen and Dundee Utd again in the next 6. Think we are going to have to re-think it over the next few days as St. Mirren play 6 in midfield a lot of the time.

That's one of those 'decisions even themselves out over the season' type penalties.

I was talking more about not scoring two games in a row when our success so far this season has been efficiency in front of goal.

Dundee United have the most clean sheets in the division but the only time they've scored more than once at home this season was against Elgin City in the league cup. The 3-0 win against Hibs last week was a great result but in terms of goal scoring it's a bit of an anomaly. I'd expect this match to be fairly close but the form shows if we can score we'll have a decent chance of getting something out the game. To be honest I'm more concerned about our form than Dundee United. Started the season well but we've gone into a wee dip in the last few games and it's important we don't let that continue, especially since we haven't scored in the last two. The main improvement we'd shown was we were taking our chances and scoring regularly and I wouldn't want to see that slip.

I think the thing is that you are being very dismissive of something you have no experience of. I'm not a regular at Scotland games but I do support Scotland and any time I've been it's been an amazing experience. It's different from club football. Club football is all about agendas, factions, tribalism etc and that's fine. Who doesn't like a bit of that abrasive side of football? However there is something really refreshing about going to a Scotland match and having pretty much everyone on the same side and behind one team. When Scotland win or Scotland score at a packed Hampden there is nothing like it. There's different sides to football. I've been following Motherwell home and away for nearly 40 years now, but I also go to Scotland matches for the reason above and I also like to pop along to random matches, usually lower league games, and just sit and watch as a neutral with no real stake in the game. Last time I did that was Alloa v Partick and it was a great game with one of the best goalkeeping displays I've ever seen (Jamie McDonald had an incredible match). I'm going to sound like a mum at tea time but 'just try it, you might like it'.

Maybe this is harsh on Grimshaw I think if your major skill set or attribute, in his case 'hard working, gives his all etc' can be equally applied to working in a bakery or an Amazon warehouse as it can to being a footballer then you have a problem. Football shouldn't be a non skilled profession.

O'Donnell made what was probably a goal saving tackle. Celtic boy was straight through.

Shape or players? Bit of a chicken and the egg situation. However our midfield has been absolutely garbage in every match I've seen this season. We've had 40% or less possession in 5 out of 9 matches this season and we've averaged 38% over all the matches. I think we've been reasonable at the back, we've scored in most of our games, midfield is where the improvement needs to be.