MelvinBragg

Three in three. Penalty or not, bodes well..

To an extent, I agree. My first thought was that I thought we were looking for young guys with potential for a transfer fee later on? On the other hand, we do have three or four players over 30. And a few in their early 20s. We don't have many players in their prime (24-29) and those we do have aren't that experienced (thinking Law, Johnson). Therefore you could argue we have a squad of players that either have potential or their best days are behind them. Maybe we need a couple of players to do a job here and now...?

Kallum Higginbotham against Josh Law. The fear...

Again, that can't be right? Our young players aren't good enough. They can't have outshone their more experienced colleagues. Against a lower league side granted but at least Thomas and Leitch played their part. Disappointed with Johnson's apparent loss of form. Thomas deserves his shot...

Given Kilmarnock scored four tonight, fear is that winning tonight would just delay the inevitable by a couple of days...

I know you said 'if', but gonnae no...

Surely not? Apparently our young players aren't ready for first team action. Should I base their readiness on a game against East Fife? No, but they still seem more ready than some of their senior counterparts...

Would be a neat trick as Leitch is on the field...

Certainly grounds to be surly...

Good to see Luke Watt back on the bench...

Correct, sir...

Ah, the club ethos of developing our own young players working well, I see...

St Mirren trying to compete with Hibs for second this season by going down last season's Rangers route of signing veterans who've played in the SPL...?

I don't want to come across as the grammar polis but please use commas, full stops or take a new line when you start a new sentence. Reading that gave me a sore head...

For me, things didn't fall to bits until Leitch was replaced by Clarkson. What shape we had was lost right then and it was no surprise we lost a goal a couple of minutes later...

You'd think so but given how badly we need a win, my feeling is Baraclough will play the first team and hope for a morale boosting victory. Injury might mean we get to see Chalmers have a full game at left back. Not sure if Taylor's suspension will count for the league cup. If not, might see him paired with Leitch in order to make sure we're not missing Lasley and Taylor next Saturday. Thomas may feature. Don't know how far away Watt and McLean are. Hoping to see them both in the first team soon...

Facts: Taylor has played three games. Chalmers also played midfield against Dundee United. We lost. Lasley has been one of the few players to get pass marks from the majority of the support in most games this season.

Given Baraclough's obvious decision to go with two wingers, I'd be interested to see who Irvine would have come in for. Lasley, for all his advancing years, has been performing pretty well this season. Pearson is your first choice centre midfielder. Obviously, we need to be looking for a replacement for Lasley but he shows little willingness to give up his place in the side without a fight. Cadden has the physical attributes to do Pearson's job. Game smarts and tactical awareness may be lacking but we have to, as a club, take the approach that Accies, Falkirk and Dundee United take. Best place to learn is in the first team. More concerning to me than results (and they're worrying), is the lack of game time seen by our young players. Watt and McLean have been injured but Thomas, Cadden and Leitch have been marginalised...

Irrespective of cost or whether we could offer Irvine what County were offering him, could this be part of the reason he went there? If we wanted him to be backup to Pearson, and they were offering a greater chance of regular football? The players are there, but are the players there that are willing to sit on the bench? Lasley is captain and Pearson, when fit, is and should be one of the first names on the team sheet. Not much scope for any new midfielder being a regular starter. Be interested to see the lineup when Pearson, Taylor and Lasley are all available...

In addition to the wins over Rangers, there were a couple of handsome wins over Accies and St Mirren and a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock with effectively what would be our first choice team this season (Ripley for Long and Fletcher for Erwin excepted). Obviously the absence of Pearson makes it difficult to replicate that team, but I suspect that these results (along with the Rangers games) have given Baraclough the idea that this team and these tactics could be successful. The injury to Pearson is unfortunate as he's the one player in the squad that we don't appear to have a replacement for (although I would like Cadden to be given a shot there). You could argue that Baraclough was irresponsible or unwise to put his eggs in that one basket but a player of Pearson's quality is difficult for a side like us to have backup for. Should he get more time? I think until he gets his first eleven fit again, then he deserves time. If results don't pick up then, obviously the answer may be different...

Motherwell fans talk a good game but for a lot of them it's all bollocks. "We need two or three new signings" kind of goes against the ethos that the kids will get their chance. Any player we bring in now will just get in the way of a young player's development. Perhaps those calling for new signings want Dom Thomas, Luke Watt, Ross McLean and Chris Cadden still playing 10-15 minute cameos when they're 21? I despair...

For those moaning about the right back position, I suspect we'll see Luke Watt there as soon as he's fit...

I think if we lose five games in a row with "his" team, then people will have the right to ask the question. You're right, it is early, but the question will be asked...

If we don't win next week, Baraclough will be gone...

Taylor sent off. Next week is massive now...