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Phillips is an absolute wall puncher. I hope you caught the moment when there was a very mild scuffle (don't even think a foul was given) and phillips tried to thump the ball off one of our players... missed and instead hit and winded his own player who was lying on the ground 😂

I'd settle for a draw next weekend, with evidence of a more solid defence and an attack that can put the ball in the net from open play.

We played the long high ball a bit too much for my liking yesterday. I quite get the long ball over the top for Longelo and Maswhanise to run onto, even if it was poorly executed. However, SPH isn't cut to challenge hulking defenders in the air so that needs to stop. No problem though with mixing it up a wee bit from JBA's approach.

I thought Kanga had a decent second half. He struggled first half with the pace & physicality of the game, slipping a fair few times on a slick pitch. But he grew into the game and was one of the few constantly showing for a pass into midfield. He is young and inexperienced, but I think the raw materials are there.

Another good performance and a point next week at Tannadice, and we can go into the international break feeling good about ourselves. 3 points would be great, but no longer essential.

Pretty much the point I was trying to make. Playing Hodge alongside Priestman and Fadinger should, in theory, allow us to keep better control of the ball and hence the game. But Lowry is our most creative midfielder so you have to play him if fit. That leaves you an issue with formation as it doesnt fit a traditional 4-3-3. Bottom line is you need to get your best players playing in their best positions, so formation needs to be flexible right now. The caveat is that Im not sure Alfred is 100% sure on who his best players are yet.

Yes, cynical hod-carriers and a team lacking any creativity: they look far more like candidates for the drop than we do, yet they beat Aberdeen last time out. They too look vulnerable, as long as they keep Robinson. With Oscar back in CM we can only improve and if McGinn stays fit to bring some calm and organisation to the defence and Williams returns to LB to release Longelo into midfield, I'm sure we'll climb the table. Pity Thor didn't score with his weird header because I think that that would have done a lot for his confidence. He needs a run at CF imo because he seemed to rummle up the Fuddies' plough-boys nicely at the back after he came on, while Seb P-H simply didn't. He's still young though and might toughen up. The referee looked like a clone of Craig Thomson: a dreadful display from him which culminated in a ludicrous booking of Hodge (whom I thought looked good yesterday). He also amazingly ignored a kick on Maswanhise while he lay on the ground. SM stole yards at every opportunity and dived all afternoon and yet he was apparently oblivious to it all. And yet this guy gets the big games like OF ones regularly............ As Bugs B. used to say, "What a maroon!"

Agree totally, I was thinking Robinson was back in charge of them yesterday. Usual embarrassing antics. I didnt see any change of style from them

I was very disappointed in St Mirren yesterday. Apart from their footballing performance, I thought they were cynical and nasty. Streetwise or dark arts, however you describe their approach. It wasn't down to impetuous actions but rather an overall approach and their manager must take responsibility for that. A performance characterised by play acting and time wasting. Maybe I'm alone in this but I don't recognise their description in the media as a total footballing side. Some weeks ago I read Craig McLeish described as a disciple of JBA - really? The MSM needs to call them out on this but of course it won't. That brings me to the referee - Don Robertson. Arguably the poorest performance I've witnessed for a while. No major decisions to call apart from the penalty, in which has was assisted by VAR - we could even see the handball from the far end of the POD. A very weak and inconsistent display. St Mirren totally conned him and played him like a fiddle. Hodge's card and Maswhanise's "foul" were nothing short of incredible. Craig McLeish really ought to take his out of control hoodlums, Carr and Phillips, aside and give them the hairdryer treatment; but we all know why he won't. Both were carded yesterday and are 1st and 3rd in the SPFL's yellow card account. If all that seems harsh then just have a look at the SPFL's stats centre. St Mirren have the Premiership's highest foul count and highest yellow card count. Nuff said.

For midfield 3 - I'd be tempted to go with Oscar, Fadinger and Hodge Pushing Lowry into attack with Said. Leaving a debate of with who else Seb, JT, Hendry ,RCC, Kanga , Thor This could add a fair amount of strength in midfield and attack.

Pretty much my view although I thought we played some decent football at times. The important thing yesterday was the result and we achieved my target of 4 points out of 6, so credit to Alf for that. It was close run thing though as we had to rely on a VAR awarded penalty. Still, a clean sheet against a poor but very "streetwise" St Mirren side. We also achieved that victory without any good luck, so that was plus. I think McGhee has now staked a claim for a starting slot, be it in central defence or preferably at RB. Kanga should not have started and ought to have been subbed at HT. As one of our group commented, at this point he's an impact sub. SPH made little impact against St Mirren's leviathans and Thor rumbled them up more when he was brought on. He was unlucky with his diving header - a horrible cross to control. It was good to see the hard working Priestman, McGinn and Hendry return and again McGinn is a good option for RB or CB. We controlled much of the game and should have won it 5-1 or thereabouts. We were wasteful in attack and that could have proved costly as we all expected a St Mirren sucker punch to come at some point. Our central defence gives me the fear though and although Saints were toothless (in a footballing sense) their big lads made JGR and Moormann's life a bit uncomfortable at times. We badly need more physicality in the side. Longelo looked good until he picked up a knock. The midfield still doesn't look right as a unit, but I thought Said and Fadinger really did the business. Maswhanise looks to be getting back to his old self and put in a power of work. Our off the ball work, especially when not in possession, has regressed badly since last year. It lacked intensity, and ostensibly effort or organisation. Still, a wins a win and we draw a little away from the bottom.

This is exactly what we were saying. JGR and MM don’t have the confidence to play to Fadinger / Hodge in the centre or midfield is not offering in the same way McGinn/Welsh did with Watt Just/Faddy did last year. Last year the ball would have gone to Watt to start the build or create the space. with Oscar back we hopefully see a bit more of that as it subtly shifts the space available for those in front of it’s a real shame that neither P-H or JT could convert the move in first half as it was as well worked as anything last year.

For me this is where we may need to tweak the formation or alternatively swap Saids position with Lowry . said - in the role Slattery played Lowry - in the role just had I’m a fan of both players - the difference for me is Saids incredible strength , ability to win the ball and come from deep .

Not conceding was huge yesterday . Performance has trended in a bit of a ‘V’ shape - we started high - had a sharp decline and thankfully performances over last 2-3 games are on the increase . Don’t think we’re fully back to where we started - we’re still fragile . we need a positive run of playing well , keeping it tight over the next 2-3 games .

Went for JGR. Been a tough shift for defence recently and he did the work to keep StM really doing anything of concern. He also is being trusted to take the ball a lot to build the attacking phase, yes he went back a number of times but that was generally when no-one offering short for him and majority of his long balls were targeted rather than aimless punts.

Close but went for Said over Fad. On a side note although not anywhere near MotM, Kanga could have had 2 assists so wasn’t anywhere near as bad as some have been saying and Sparrow was a different player when Priestman and McGinn came on and he was further forward. He’s no RB but has tried.

I'm sure that cemented the decision for the ref and VAR.

A really good week for Alfred. Players are clearly playing for him and there’s been encouraging signs in each of the last 3 games, culminating in a very dominant performance today. Let’s see if we can carry that into Tannadice.

Agree 100% Joe.

I really enjoyed that today, possibly the most impressed I’ve been with us this season. We pressed well, we looked more compact and a lot of our football was lovely to watch. Having said that, we looked to have ran out of steam and ideas going into the last 20 mins but our overall play deserved the pen. Fadinger was the standout for me today but I’m really pleased to see the progress in Hodge over the last week.

Fadinger was integral to a very good team performance. The armband suits him well. Mention for Said, great fun to watch as usual.

I think Oscar, Fadinger and Lowry are probably our strongest midfield 3. I think the problem you then have is who plays alongside them and what formation you are going to play. Its going to be interesting to see what Alfred does going forward and who he trusts.

Thank you. Yes. I remember now. Lowry and Priestman involved for Said goal. Hopefully more to come in that regard.

They played a few times before Hodge signed. Defo played at easter road