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Delighted to have picked up the three points — hopefully everything starts to click sooner rather than later. I think this is the tenth year since the group stage format was reintroduced, and thankfully, we haven’t slipped up yet. There have been some really tough matches over the years. Off the top of my head, I can only remember outright defeats to Airdrie and Rangers, but we've had numerous shootout wins, and one shootout loss, to grab that extra point.

I find the seeding in this cup really frustrating. Like others have said, if you're seeded and manage to avoid the Old Firm, that's ideal, but we've ended up with some really tough draws over the years, even after topping the group. The teams coming in from Europe have already had the benefit of skipping the group stages, so they may as well just throw everyone into the same pot. As for the game itself, on paper, it's the toughest in the group. But I’ve got a feeling a few things will finally click, and we’ll come through it more comfortably than we have in recent matches.

Which was cut short by injury apparently. Only fair to mention given the chat about McGhee being a typical Kettlewell crock signing. Not suggesting we shouldn't be looking at him but just worth saying given the angst on here when we sign someone with a recent record of injury...

He's already done a loan spell at Ross County as far as I'm aware - last season

Its hypothetical of course given that this is simply a rumour. However, you could imagine a scenario where we offer a young lad a one year deal on say £750 pw (just making this up) and Livingston offer him a 2 year deal on say £700 pw. I suspect Ross County will be paying Premiership wages, but not every young lad want to relocate to Dingwall.

If this is genuine and if he's any good, I'd like to think that we would be able to offer him a better deal than those two. Also, we should be seen as the better option for young players looking to launch their career.

Livingston and Ross County interested in him too

We're apparently interested in Aidan Denholm of Hearts, according to the Beeb.

I'm with you on that - I'm not a fan of seeding in cup competitions.

The only guarantee seeding gives you is that you dont play Rangers or Celtic. You could still get an away tie to a non seeded team. Which could be very difficult. Just not as difficult....... St Mirren away anyone?

Kind of agree with you on that, the seeding has seen premiership teams ending up being paired with another unseeded premiership team which I don’t disagree with as it’s a cup competition and that’s how it should be. All I’m concerned with is making it to the next round. Personally I’d rather all teams went into a bowl and it’s the luck of the draw from there.

that's 1/2 points predicted by you in the campaign. hope you don't have a bet365 account

The seeding in this competition has been a bit of a joke in recent years, so not too bothered about that. Would like to win the group, though, and keep progressing on the park.

Even if we get 3 points I don't think that guarantees us being seeded. Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs, Dundee Utd plus 3 best group winners are seeded. There are still more than three teams that could end up with 12 points if my arithmetic is correct.....Alloa/Airdrie, Ayr, Thistle, Hearts, Killie and St Johnstone. Also Falkirk can get to 11 points and are well ahead of us on goal difference. So when we win we will just have to wait and see how it all works out. Unseeded and at home to Alloa would work.

Correct Dave, but looking at the tables there are 4 groups C,D, F and H where potentially the runners up can be better than us both points and goal difference. So we need 3 points on Tuesday to finish as group winners and be assured of progression and seeding in the last 16.

Apparently Ayr lost out on goal difference last year. I think if we got second in the group we would progress but be unseeded

If Morton win the group with 10 points on goal difference, we would need to be one of the 3 best runners up to progress - no?

A draw and a bonus point win would give us 10 points, Morton would have 7, with a game to play so they could get 10 points with a better GD than us and top the group. For us to finish on 10 may not be enough to get one of the 3 runner up spots and if we did we would not be seeded. So for ease of progress this is a must win game for us, 3 points, group winners and seeded in the last 16.

A penalty point would be fine for us as well no? We don't need to win this to progress. We just need a draw and to win the shoot out

I've had time to mull over this game. I reckon Morton will be quite happy to sit in and hit us on the break, after observing how we've struggled to break down League 1 and 2 sides. A point will do them just fine and allow them to finish top of the group. A Penalty shoot out would then be academic to them. Its absolutely critical that we score the first goal to entice them out.

Fans were great yesterday and if you read the Stenhousemuir match report it's actually very complimentary about our players - I personally think we need to give JBA time as it's game three and we still need new faces coming in. Just thinking out loud - not aimed at anyone

A well written and thoughtful post, I’m only quoting this part as I see it a different way. That 40% is a 66% increase of the squad that played in their previous games and although it’s all if, bits and maybes but if they had those players available earlier would they have been goalless and thumped? Comparing the two is not a valid comparison. As I said outwith that I broadly agree with most of what you said and I’m glad the fans were behind the team and not abusing SOD.

I'm not sure about this one. To some extent it'll depend on what JBA does regarding load balancing. Will he play his strongest team or is he still looking to get minutes into some of the players? I'd love a convincing performance and clear victory, but I reckon a score draw at 90 mins (2-2) and then the fun lottery of penalties.

There are actually quite a few part time footballers who train to be personal trainers. I've worked with a few in gyms and there's been a couple in the gym I've been a member of. I worked beside Adam Cummins at pure gym and at that point he was playing part time with Bangor. It makes sense as it's additional income and it's a career that obviously can carry on when they stop playing football. Pretty sure some clubs put players through sports science degrees as well

I agree. And the more frustrated Stam got the deeper he got. No surprise given the lack of quality coming from out wide or through the middle. Often in space and looking for the ball, but ignored. Wilson is just terrified to make a mistake so plays backwards more often than not. I lost count of the number of times he had acres of space in front of him but chickened out. Confidence seems totally shot. Although willing, Sparrow just cannot be relied upon. Defensively both are weak so not sure why they start. The only cutback that created a worthwhile chance first half was sclaffed wide by Maswanhise. Pity it did not fall to Stam as that might have got him up and running. I'm guessing Maswanhise will delight and frustrate us in equal portions throughout the season. My first game this season and I was looking forward to the bright new world I've been reading about. But, even allowing for the weather and the pitch, I was underwhelmed. Facing a team two divisions below us, who were goalless and thumped in their previous game, and who had only brought in 40% of their matchday squad the day before, I expected more. Not miracles but more. Sure we had lots of the ball but what's the point if you go nowhere with it? Eventually resorting to long distance shots that are easily blocked or saved. And I get that it's early days and Askou is still experimenting with players coming to terms with what he expects of them. I thought many looked hesitant and more often than not took the easy option. With the result that we spent most of the game overplaying in midfield. And we got off the hook when their player made a complete hash of their chance to equalise late on from a throw in that seemed to bamboozle our defence. Positives? It's a better watch than SK delivered. We won and kept a clean sheet with what looked like a second choice back four. Balmer and SOD did ok although under little pressure. Stenny's big striker did make it uncomfortable at times but with little threat. SOD scoring...just. Connolly also coped well with everything he was asked to deal with. Of the new recruits, I thought Fadinger looked busy and keen to get involved, trying to move us forward. We missed him when he went off. The fans backed the team to the end and SOD appeared to have an abuse free match. On to Morton who will provide a much sterner test. Improvement needed if we are to progress from the group. Looking forward to see how we perform against a team that might actually set out to win a match. Imrie will certainly have them fired up for a game they have to win. Cannot see them playing for penalties as far to much of a lottery. Hopefully we get a decent turnout who get right behind the team.