Welly Machine

Well that was horrendous, thought one down at half time was bad enough. Whilst their finishes were good, every chance was gifted. Seem to be too slow and lacking in ideas in the final third.

Like how Alfred explained the situation with Olly Whyte and, whilst if he didn't go on loan, he would still get opportunities with us it perhaps wouldn't be the amount of minutes he needs for the stage he is currently at and how he contrasted that with Mikey Booth who is a bit earlier in his development and might benefit more from being around the first team rather than going out on loan just now. As for the game, they seem to improved a bit recently but very quietly confident, with a fair wind, we can get some kind of positive results to take us into the break before the Aberdeen game.

I know it has been heavily rumoured recently but I'm a bit disappointed with the news on Olly White. Thought he has done well in his appearances so far and offered a more physical option in midfield I'm not sure we have a lot of. Hopefully the step up to Championship from League One will improve him and benefit us when he comes back to us.

Lennon Miller got the full 90 in the cup tonight.

Lowry for me. Getting better all the time and I think he will look even better the more the team gel and get on the same wavelength. Moorman and Hodge also strolled it.

Some really nice stuff played and should really have been at least 3 - 0 at half time. Can't remember ever seeing three guys getting their first goal for us in the same game.

Quite a contrast watching a game where the referee gestures for Celtic players to get off the deck and waves away their free kick claims instead of giving them just about everything they ask for and some things didn't even ask for. Pity it won't catch on here.

I think what hasn't helped the perception of Vogt's start with us for some people is the unusually high early hit rate of the other new signings, i.e. most, if not all of the rest, seem to have settled straight away and have at worst impressed to some degree or even looked real finds. Probably be a few months into the season before things look a bit clearer, for all of them.

Paulsen tonight. Calm on the ball and some really good saves. Hodge looks like he could be a find and Lowry impressed with his work rate again.

Gutting to lose the third after all the hard work a man down. From my view in the Cooper, I thought the guy had just slipped under a bit of pressure. Actually thought the ref was going to reverse the penalty decision until he flashed the red. Not going to get too down, well worked goal from us against a team several levels above what we will be playing through the season.

Mine too. Steve Martin at the airport car hire desk must be one of the best rants in cinema history.

Could only be Said. Defence absolutely solid. Special mention for Lowry. Andy Holliday on Sportsound saying he has told him countless times he needs to improve his work off the ball to reach his full potential. Based on tonight Lowry has been listening, what a shift.

Brilliant team performance and great atmosphere. What a night! Only disappointment was Said never got a hat-trick, which he could easily have had. 5-0 wouldn't have flattered us.

Thought we were the better team in the first have and could have been two up at half time. Tired quite badly in the second, especially last 20-25 minutes although that could have been partly due to Falkirk pressing us better than they did in the first. Sibbald seemed to make a difference for them. Still should have made better of the two great chances we had in the second. A draw and a clean sheet against Falkirk is not a disaster with we have on our plate at the moment.

Went for Moorman. Thought he was solid until having to go off. Hope he is OK for Thursday.

Agreed. While not perfect, won't be easy to replace at all. Made a major contribution for us last season.

I have looked at the images multiple times, video and stills, and tried to be as impartial as I can be. At the end of the games that night it didn't make any difference to what we needed to do at Easter Road after the Hibs result at Ibrox, but I can't for the life of me see how they can be so definitive with those images. Willie Collum: "for us there is clear evidence", "in our opinion this is clear" "VAR, AVAR and referee are the important people here". Andrew Dallas: "definitely hits his arm" Seems to me they are basically saying it doesn't matter that most people, other than Celtic or Hibs fans, can't say one way or another whether the ball definitely makes contact with Sam Nicholson's hand/arm it's what we think that counts. For me they are seeing, or say they are seeing, something most other people can't. Most people can't see ghosts either.👻

Went for O'Donnell but could easily have went with Sparrow. Fadinger and Johnny K also impressive.

Too hacked off post last night. Thought we were the better team in the first half, they were for half an hour in the second then us again for the last 15. On the penalty, viewing from the Cooper, I first thought just another throw in to begin with then a free kick to us when there was a slight delay. Completely bewildered when the announcement was made for a VAR check but kept an open mind and thought might have been pretty clear given how quickly Beaton turned and pointed. On the drive home Sportsound going mental about it then watched Sportscene and various other sources since. You really can't explain why VAR got involved in the first place and when it did why Beaton didn't stick by his on field decision without thinking there is a serious problem with competence and/or weakness in decision making with the officiating. The fact Beaton was so quick to award it given how it doesn't seem at all clear whether any of the criteria to justify it are there, never mind there being any contact with the hand, leaves it open to all sorts of theories. May be just my biased viewpoint but I think there isn't any less proof Nicholson was fouled, looks to have taken elbow to the ribs in the challenge.

Noticing a trend recently with opposition targeting Just for 'special' treatment. Were all three Hearts bookings for fouls on him?

Couldn't see past O'Donnell, seemed to be everywhere last night, unlucky not to score and think the goal saving block early on might be even better than Johnny K's in the first home game against Hibs . Thought Gordon done really well and Watt was the pick of midfield.

I thought we weren't at our best but definitely deserved a point, great crowd and atmosphere. On the penalty claims I think we were lucky to get away with the Longelo one but Kyziridis takes a dive when he can easily take a touch on the ball instead. The rolling about obviously just to make sure VAR take a look. For ours on Maswanhise it would have been soft but looks like there was slight contact from both Hearts players. Hopefully get a win on Wednesday to put 4th beyond doubt.

Just seen the KMI Panel outcomes from last weekend are available: The panel unanimously agreed that the on-field decision was incorrect. The panel highlighted VAR should have intervened to recommend an OFR and a penalty should have been awarded. They class this as a difficult decision where the referee needs the help of technology to make the correct decision, yet in this case VAR didn't get involved. Why? Slattery payback? I'm sure the VAR Review show for April will clear it up 🤔

Wondered where Ricki Lamie was playing these days. Remember him scoring against Hearts twice in one season not so long ago.

Can't get much clearer than that. Would love to hear the VAR audio on this one.