pretzel

Naughty by Watt

Big Sondre

1-0 Yess

I'm sorry but Shields is gash. That was a great chance. Not even on target

All United so far. It's a bit frustrating as all too often our crosses hit the hoop of the first man.

That would have been my preference also. By all accounts O'Donnell's strong point at Killie was playing in more a RWB role and getting forward. Obviously the problem playing a 352 is perhaps the lack of options right up top.

The Dundee United programme has a good article on VAR today and how it's suppose to work. I had asked the question earlier in the week about can the VAR officials not bring an incident to the refs attention and it appears they should be doing so in regards to straight red cards, penalty area incidents and goals. It was clear they never bothered as it took minutes to check a goal that was well on side. Ironically the end of that paragraph has a bit saying VAR will automatically be checking these things so players/coaches do not need to ask for an intervention. Hammell mentioned in his interview yesterday the club had contacted Crawford Allan looking for answers on what happened.

Kelly McGinn Solholm Lamie Penney Slattery Goss Spittal Shields Van Veen McKinstry Glad to see Moult on the bench. Hopefully we can pick up the three points today to put a nice wee gap between United and ourselves otherwise it'll be a tad condensed down the bottom half.

I thought I understood VAR as it's now been in operation for just over four years but apparently not. We had three potential penalty incidents on Saturday with Tierney, Lamie and a handball but nothing was even looked at, obviously prior to VAR the ref would make his decision and either award a pen or play on, so my question is do refs still take that approach and only use VAR if they feel a foul was committed? I was under the assumption that with players appealing then it makes the incident worth looking at as it can fall 'clear and obvious banner', furthermore you have Andrew Dallas and another assistant watching the feed of the game, I thought they had the ability to interject and tell the ref there is something to take a look at.

Frustrating day at the office to say the least. I feel like VAR is going to be torture, the unnecessary long waits I can let slide if they get the decisions right but not to be contradictory it seems that the first goal wasn't even close to that and should have taken seconds to arrive at the correct decision. Absolutely inexcusable that they never looked at the potential penalty at the end, doubt we'll ever get a reason to why not. Maybe I'm being salty but it was a bit of a piss take letting there players run all the way back from the half way line to the corner flag to celebrate the first goal. Obviously the Ross County game was terrific as everything clicked in front of goal but it's the same script every game, Van Veen had two chances a striker would dream of getting, Spittal should have slipped in Shields but unleashed a pass back effort and the same with VV with Penney hence the disagreement but then with the only shot on target they have in the second half they score. I feel like we were the architects of our own downfall, that Stewart in defence for the Dons was an absolute disaster piece. Someone mentioned it but Goodwin pulled back McGinn when he was taking a throw in, what happened to his lengthy ban? He was vocal about an opposition player cheating weeks ago but he has his side feigning head knocks, pulled hamstrings and so forth. Dundee United, Hearts, Celtic and St Johnstone coming up before the World Cup break, three of which are away from home. I was optimistic everything would click eventually but with the injuries stacking up you can't help but it feel it's going to be a tough season.

We are unbeaten in the last 5 against Aberdeen, having won 4 and 1 draw. We played really well in August up at Pittodrie if we can match that performance and more importantly finishing I have no doubt we will win. They have been a mixed bag as of late getting pumped by Dundee United but beating Hearts. A win here would be most welcome, it's the penultimate home game before the World Cup break with Celtic being the last so it would be nice to enjoy a home win.

Refreshing take.

Like I said earlier in the thread the game was a weird one, we were going into a quarter final tie but it just didn't feel like that, when we played Aberdeen and Hearts in the respective cup competitions at this stages not so long ago the place was buzzing. How much dosh have Celtic spent this year? It must be close to 25 million then you add the few freebies and loanees they have, It actually makes you feel quite scunnered as they get there Y fronts pulled down each time they play in Europe but look like Barca domestically. Essentially they're paying well over the odds to hoover everything up domestically. I started to get optimistic early on, Shields had a great run minutes in but his cross was well overhit, later on in similar circumstances he then went way too short but it was good to see we were at least getting forward. Also the shot that cracked the bar then the tame header follow up saved by Kelly and the Japanese guy screwing a tap in past the post you couldn't help but feel more optimistic that it might be our day, sadly however a defensive brain fart gifted them an opener. Lamie and Penney weren't happy with the ref about something but nothings been mentioned and I don't plan on revising the game, however I feel it must have been something to do with Lord Voldemort who was down injured. The second half started brightly, Penney brought out a fine save but again all the hard work was undone when we allowed them to have numerous pops at goal before they netted the second. Its actually amazing how jammy they were at times with rebounds etc all over the pitch constantly landing at a Celtic players feet. I don't think the ref done too much wrong tbf but noticed how he was quick to give McGinn a yellow for a tumble in the box but failed to do the same with Taylor earlier in the match who went down in instalments. Plus the ball went out for a Celtic throw in front of Hammell and Taylor goes to take it like 20 feet away, Robertson tells him to go back but he proceeds to throw it anyway and he just lets the game go.

It's the Quarter Final of a cup and it's hard to get excited with the other bigots coming to town. By all accounts they haven't been playing great the last month or so but they have still managed to dig out results with the obvious exception being pumped in Europe and the game against St Mirren. Heading along in more hope than expectation, getting a result here would certainly go down as one of those great nights at Fir Park. Hopefully we see a marked improvement on Sunday otherwise defeat will be inevitable. Don Robertson is the ref for this game.

Any points against this mob would be most welcome, after today thats us completed our first full set of fixtures against all opposition. I don't think we have conceded a penalty kick as of yet this season but as per confident they'll get one. I see the ref today is the guy from bargain hunt, David Dickinson normally it's one of the well known crew such as Collum that takes charge of a game whenever one of the arse cheeks play. I think Rangers have a few players missing especially defensively, after there midweek exploits I hope we can pile on the misery and reset that not won a league fixture against them in 20 years clock.

FT 1-0 to the Hivs

Efford's cross clearly blocked by His defender and goes out but ref awards a goal kick.

Five mins added on

McKinstry on for McGinn

Some dive by Boyle right in front of the ref, wins free kick lol

Moult, Cornelius and O'Donnell on for Tierney, Slattery and Van Veen

1-0 Hibs

Looked like Boyle had tripped him before hand, not that Shields was doing much before hand tbh.

Shields sent off

HT 0-0.