Lobey_Dosser

It could have been worse as I fully expected Ross County to win. Not convinced Thistle will get dragged into it but they do have a difficult run on paper and it's up to is to make some significant ground between now and 11th April.

Today has panned out not too badly. Much needed win for Partick Thistle though given their next 3 games are against the top 3.

Law is not perfect but he's doing a decent enough job and preferable to the alternatives. The only significant change we can make from a personal perspective is if Hammell recovers from injury and replaces Straker (who got out of jail courtesy of Long's mistakes last night - an opinion shared by Willie Miller and Craig Paterson). More generally, our defence has been horribly exposed for a number of years now. I don't see it being addressed between now and the end of the season. Encouragingly though, there is a focus from the coaching staff to improve our defence - something that was seemingly missing during McCalls time when we relied upon the quality of Hutchinson and Randolph. Anyway, the reason we lost last night was due to the keeper losing his head. A position most keepers get into at some point; the test will be how he recovers from it.

Dan put in a string of motm performances and then things got too much for him with the volume of shots he was facing each week. I'd bring him back in after some much needed timeout. He's got plenty of heart and natural ability about him. Long and Neilsen have shown that physical frame and presence don't always make the difference.

Our play hasn't really merited any luck this season after getting more than our fair share last year. 90% of the breaks going against us stem from our own incompetence. Despite the positivity of 1st half, really can't see us winning 6/9.

Shocking way to throw away the game, which piles on the pressure for the Accies game and gives our rivals a boost for tomorrow. Watching the press conference yesterday, I was struck by some of Long's comments where he was almost underestimating the challenge that lay ahead in Aberdeen. Hopefully tonight serves as a wake-up call for him and Laing. Straker has been a lost cause from the moment he departed York.

We're 66/1 now.

Langfield back in goals for them. Thought Ramsden would be back in the team but thankfully Straker doesn't have to deal with Hayes. We need a result here or the pressure next Friday will be immense.

McDonald 2-1 is 325/1 with Sky.

I like everything about this boy: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/spfl/motherwell-colt-dom-overcame-celtic-height-snub-to-stand-tall-199918n.120478751

This.

Based on our tactics against Killie I'm all for recalling Sutton to the starting lineup, however I'd hold off until after Aberdeen as we'll be looking to hit them on the break.

Just got it in my head that we need to be approaching 40 points to be safe.

Intrigued to see how we approach this tactically. I think against Aberdeen you need a 3 man midfield which would benefit Grant and allow Pearson to put in a Tannadice style performance. Skippy is more than capable of playing upfront himself if he's supported by the likes of Johnson. Given the superiority of the opposition, this game would have been a free hit to an extent if we'd beaten Killie but a loss at Pittodrie will probably leave us needing 6 wins in 9. We are capable of causing a surprise though if our defence does a solid job.

Skippy a class apart but mentions for Law and Johnson. Disappointed with Pearson today.

Carried the greatest threat but I thought he looked done after an hour, understandably so as it's a big step up for him.

Same effort and desire as last week but ran out of steam and ideas on a poor pitch. Enjoyable enough game and merited point. I thought we lacked creativity in the final third against an organised defence and believe we could have done with taking Erwin and Johnson off a little earlier. Poor goalkeeping for the Killie goal but the new signings are generally settling in well and having a positive impact. Straker the exception. Could really do with a point in Aberdeen.

Is the pitch back to it's old ways regarding drainage? It didn't look too great last week. Can look forward to the summer football rhetoric being trotted out.

I used to be behind the idea of summer football until I realised how boring winters would be. Motherwell's drop in attendances is in contrast to a good few premier league teams post Rangers. Think we need to look closer to home if we wish to address that particular problem.

I mind him giving me the fear at Morecambe. Really lazy signing that has probably cost Motherwell a fair whack.

I think if he's worth knowing about, which I'm convinced he is, clubs and scouts will be well aware of his potential irrespective of first feam exposure at Motherwell. Dom and Nathan Thomas both lining up against Killie tonight.

Glad to see he has stopped referring to Motherwell as 'us'. The overhaul in recent months speaks volumes with regards to the shortcomings of McCall and Dempster who were working with a very decent budget.

Given the gulf in our last two performances, it's impossible to look more than 1 game ahead and I'm just fascinated to see if we can sustain progress given how inept we've been for the bulk of the season. Added pressure on us this Saturday as expectations grow immediately.

Keith Lasley, captain fantastic. What a difference when he has some support around him.

Much more like it today. We resembled a professional football team that was well drilled with bundles of desire and good fitness. Good to see some evidence of the pressing and shape that the management team have been talking about. Impossible to underestimate the difference Pearson and Skippy made but Lasley also answered some of his critics today with a proper captains performance. McManus done likewise and Johnson looks like a potentially decent signing. Positives all round. More of the same next week please.