fat_tony

I think we need another goal to kill the match (just the first leg). If we can get it early in the half, I think the zombies will fall apart. If they get it they may kick on and get another. Big Craggs giving us support on BT, legend.

Just got the baby back to sleep after going mental at the goal! We've got a wee bit of a swagger about us now, need to make it count.

Couldn't agree more, David. It seems like everything happening at the club is moving to exactly where we would want it to be, with the exception of the performances on the field. While there's never any certainty in football, I'd much rather go through short term pain for long term stability, than see the club be run into the ground and go out on a high. There now seems to be a strategic plan for the future of the club, rather than living hand-to-mouth, as seemed to be the case before. The question is whether that strategy has a contingency for dropping down a division, should it come to that.

That second half performance was an absolute disgrace. Players should be ashamed of themselves.

New Douglas Park must be built on an ancient burial ground or something. It's utterly cursed. I'm not going to call time until its mathematically impossible to finish 10th, but we certainly look like last season's Hibs at the moment. Worrying stuff.

At least we can't blame the revert to long bank football on Sutton this time. Looks like we've completely given up.

I don't think we've been that terrible. Not great defensively, but not that much difference from the last match against Accies. If we can have a similar second half to that game, that'll suit me fine.

That diagonal ball to Johnson is working well, just need to keep pushing.

I think it all depends on our results to be honest. If we can win the Friday night games then it's advantage us. If we lose or draw then I think it will make the job that much easier for the Saturday teams. Like others, I agree we need to win the first three to give ourselves a chance of getting back in the pile. Ross County v Partick is a great one for the first weekend, as if we can beat Accies it would put the pressure right on. I get a feeling that 12 points might just be enough to sneak by, but it's crucial we get a good start to the post-split as if we drop points early even I think we might not escape 11th place. This is going to be an absolute bloodbath.

That's the core of the issue right there. I'm totally open about being a big fan of Sutton, but in order to let him do what he does best, we need a team that will create chances. Should Baraclough build a team that is capable of creating chances for Sutton, I'm confident he'd score an absolute boat load. But, he doesn't seem to fit the way that the manager likes his teams to play, so will he look to create a team that can deliver what Sutton needs, or will he let him go? I'd like to see Sutton stay but fully appreciate that he may not want to re-sign if he's not going to be getting game time.

I was just about to reply saying the same thing Orinoco. I think some of our fans are bipolar. There have been a lot of problems this season that many posters on here highlighted before a ball was even kicked as issues with McCall's transfer policies and lack of foresight. Any manager coming in was going to struggle to turn things around, but we have shown a definite improvement from February onwards. For the last few years we have been a team capable of playing well, picking up a few good results and then turning in an inept performance, so today's collapse isn't without precedent. Regardless of where we're playing our football next season, I'm happy with the changes that have been made at the club as a result of Baraclough's tenure, and there's a lot of good progress been made off the park. We need to finish strong, but on the progress made since the dark days of January, I'd be happy for Ian Baraclough to have a chance to build a team over the summer to be competitive in whichever league we're playing.

I'm a big fan of Sutton, and I think he's a quality player, if you can get him the service. But it's been a problem all season that we revert to the long ball when we can't get the ball down the flanks. I don't think the impact made by having Johnson on the left can be overstated. Having pace and trickery down the left has made a huge difference to the team, as well as the added movement of the Erwin/McDonald combo up front. I think Ainsworth struggles with the responsibility of being the main attacking outlet and is really helped by Johnson's presence when he's in the team. Hopefully his injury's not too bad and big Marv will be back in before the next fixture.

There were a lot of similar comments at this time last year following a couple of poor results that our chances of finishing second, or even qualifying for Europe, were dead and buried. We weren't exactly performing well then either. As we all know, we dug out some results in the big games, despite not performing well, and got there in the end. Moral of the story? It ain't over 'til it's over. It's not fully in our hands any more, which makes it that much more difficult, but we can still pick up 15 points, and Partick, Kille, and County can't all win all of their games.

Bit early to be calling it season over I think. Awful showing today but maybe it's a timely reminder that we're not out of the woods yet. We've still got five games to play and it's a big ask, but I'm not going to settle for 11th yet and I'm sure Baraclough isn't either. And if we do, the play-offs are still anyone's game.

Ainsworth off for Moore. We just never like doing things the easy way do we? EDIT: Thomas rather than Moore.

Sounds like we're under a fair bit of pressure, need to get it turned around fast. FUUUUUUUCK.

Oooft, early chance for Sutton. Nervy Partick?

I popped a tenner on Ross County, which is usually a sure fire way to ensure they drop points.

Yeah, aside from a moment in the first half where he switched off, and a dodgy touch in the second half, Straker didn't do much wrong tonight. But, some people need a target, and he's an easy one to single out.

If we can beat St Mirren and Partick in our next 2 games then we'd be a point behind Thistle (assuming they lose to Celtic). It's all ifs and buts, but given the upcoming fixtures, there may be plenty of twists in the tale yet. Just have to focus on our own games one at a time and the rest will take care of itself.

Ah, my bad - I read your previous post the wrong way. Yeah, regardless, it's not really working all that well. We're matching County at least, but fingers crossed we can make the possession count in the second half.

That's not the shoutbox doing that, the club Twitter account was really slow to update at the goal. They shared some animated gif with Pearson's name and the time etc, maybe it took a minute or two to put together. P.S. Yay!

I'd be more confident playing Sutton up alongside McDonald now that Johnson is up to speed, and we've got people who can actually get the ball across the box. Do that with Sutton on the pitch, and the chances are, you're going to get goals. There's an argument for both though, and it probably all comes down to the opposition we're facing, and who we've got available for selection on the day.

I'd settle for being safe by the split and having time to bed in some youngsters and start building for next season. I've had enough "excitement" already. Delighted to see Skippy coming back though, just what we need.

Omar Daley?!