MelvinBragg

Have to say that despite the result Watt and Cole cam hold their heads up. They've worked hard with scraps...

And just after that he keeps the ball alive for them to score...

Least of our problems, I know, but McGloire doesn't look up to much...

I know Robinson got slated for signing players with pace and not much else. But this team looks painfully slow...

This could end up anything today. It is a disgrace...

They are always more up for it than us sadly...

Really tempting fate posting this a couple of days before a derby. Bets on one of the two having a stinker tomorrow..? More seriously though, think it's probably a couple of factors. Maybe new coaching, a different voice can make a difference. Suspect the return of Carroll has been huge as well. He's no Roberto Carlos (or even Rab McKinnon) but he's a lett back as opposed to a player that 'can play there'. Balance of the defence is far better... I do feel it's worth pointing out though that for all the stick our defenders have been getting all season, there were periods where we weren't conceding huge numbers of goals. Losing 1 goal to Ross County, Dundee United and Hamilton should not have resulted in zero points from those games at the start of the season. If you can't score 1 goal against Accies at home or Ross County away, that's not the fault of your defence...

Harsh on Maguire, I feel. Something of an achievement to get two wins with a centre back partnership of Mugabi and Lamie. I like Mugabi but I always feel he's better as the 'junior' centre back in a partnership. Impressive that Alexamder has fashioned a solid base with those two centre backs...

Frankly getting any cash for Hastie is starting to look like a masterstroke...

You look at their recent results and you think there's no reason that we can't get something from this game. But then you realise that it will be Lamie and Mugabi against Edouard and Griffiths and think if we escape with a 2-0 defeat and no injuries or red cards that would be acceptable. If we get a result, great. If we don't, I hope to not read on here criticism about how St Mirren went there and won...

Really like the balance Carroll offers and Cole was obviously superb but I went for Maguire. I really like the way he took responsibility tonight. He made a couple of mistakes but I reckon he could be a big player for us...

Few random thoughts on tonight's game.. I've always liked Barry Maguire but there have been occasions when I've thought his chance had passed. Tonight was as confident as I've seen him look in a Motherwell shirt. New manager, fresh start? I don't know if he's the kind of player other clubs would come in for but certainly think he can do a job in the SPL. Something to be said for bringing through academy players simply to keep in your team for years.. Cole looking a real handful. Made the point in the Transfer thread that Cole and Watt would score goals at this level if we create chances for them. At least Cole is proving me right. Watt, although not scoring is crucial in the way he links things.. Didn't think we were under the cosh as much as some on here seem to. Their keeper was far busier than Kelly. After they scored, it got a bit anxious but I wasn't too concerned as I have come to the conclusion that Shankland is pish... Five games in, I'm liking how much Alexander is managing to get out of players that were already here. Winning a league game with a centre half partnership of Mugabi and Lamie should be enough to secure a Manager Of The Year nomination at least....

I agree with you a lot of the time, Dave, but that's nonsense. They had a lot of the ball particularly in the second half but we created all of the chances. To suggest they deserved a point is a bit much...

Hate it when that happens...

Not wishing to single you out as I think I've seen another person on here do this already, but we'd go off our head if the media kept getting the name of one of our players wrong. It's Tyler...

Whether you think Gallagher is injured or not, I think you can put to bed the argument of 'he'll need to play with the Euros coming up'. If the Euros go ahead (and that's a huge if in my book), Gallagher is in the position where he knows Scotland have very few options at centre half. If he is 'at it' (and again that's a huge if), all he would need to do is have a quiet word with Steve Clarke and explain he's fit and that it's a contractual issue. Let me make it clear, not suggesting he's not injured. But using the Euros as a reason 'he'll have to play at some point ' is a nonsense...

Like it or not, if Gallagher is seen to be injured one game shy of triggering an automatic contract extension, it's certain that conspiracy theories will abound, particularly given we signed two defenders on deadline day. Time will tell on this issue. What I do feel is certain (and understandable) is that while the club may have thought Gallagher was going to be a good signing, there is no way that they would have thought a 28 year old centre back signed from Livingston would go on to be a Scotland regular and therefore possibly more in demand. So I do suspect that the situation we are in is not one we prepared for...

Tyler? Who he?

Like you, I don't think we'll see too many changes from last week. Foley would be the one most likely, I reckon, given he's trained a couple of days more with us than the others. Maybe in for Crawford. Would definitely like to see Maguire keep his place... EDIT I'd be surprised if there was an issue with the pitch. Been a long time since we've had any problems. Probably jinxed it by saying that...

If you don't count Carson, Dunne and Donnelly, and if you don't consider the likes of Cornelius, Semple, Devine and Johnston first team players. It's something like 26 players. So more than 22, but nowhere near the 37 you suggest...

While I agree that midfield was an area I would have addressed, in four games under Alexamder, Cole has scored three goals. Maybe he'll get the best out of him. I feel that Cole and Watt will score goals if we create chances. That's why midfield was my concern. Clearly we've not managed to get a creative midfielder in but at the start of January, we had one recognised winger on our books. Now we have three. Maybe one of them will create the chances we need. Like you, I don't think that defenders were a priority, at least in terms of numbers. But beyond Gallagher and Mugabi, which of them do you trust..?

Tom Aldred couldn't get a game at Bury...

Expressing concerns is saying "don't know if he's better than we've got". Saying "fucking nonsense" and "pish signing" is not...

I despair of this place. Underwhelming signing perhaps but because it didn't work out at Hearts doesn't mean it won't work out here. John Sutton was poor at Hearts, worked out fine here. We were told that Jake Carroll was dreadful when he signed, he's done a good job. Not saying he'll be a world beater, but at least give the guy a chance...

Have never seen this guy play although he does have a good pedigree. Although we have had mixed results loaning players from the EPL. For every Ruddy or Jutkiewicz, there's been a Belic, Aydilek or Offiong. Worth remembering when we complain about the level we sign players from...