steelman1991

Just back and yes like others I'm disappointed we didn't at least take a point tonight. Though I thought the whole team played very well. There was only 1 team prepared to play footbale and they weren't in 'maroon'. No real failures, but a special mention for 'Stretch' thought he had a great game and his forward passes invariably found a claret & amber jersey. Klimpl - what do they put in that boy's tea - he'd run through a brick wall for the cause - get him signed up now. Played worse and won, but overall a good team performance and plenty of positives. Onwards and upwards.

Had to leave this till this morning, so 'down' after last night - you'd think after nearly 45 years I would get used to this, but I just don't . Echo much of the sentiment from other posters, but in my eyes the 2 differences between the teams last night involved the front two pairings. St Mirren - in Billy Mehmet had an agile, hard-working centre with the ability to win his fair share of headers and who is no slouch on the ground - similarily so Dennis Wyness. They had the ability and technical nouse to hold-up the ball, allowing their midfield to move forward at pace and link the play. Fast forward up the park and what did we have, 2 front men who's second touch was invariably a tackle, therefore making it easy for the St Mirren back four to step forward and take control. There just wasn't any co-hesion in our play and sadly this has been evident for most of the season. We could analyse the tatics all day and never reach a consensus, but in my eyes, the front two and midfield, have to bear the brunt of the critisicm in this respect. Its all good and well Sheridan winning the odd header (which given his physical presence he should do more often than not, sadly he seems not to), but unless the partner is capable of basic ball control, then its a pointless and futile exercise. There were few if any occasions when the midfield got beyond the front two. There just seems to be a team mentality, or perhaps management instructions to get the ball from front to back as quickly as possible - an admirable tactic if you have the players capable of performing the basics, collect hold and pass. Neither the starting 2, or for that matter John Sutton seem capable of carrying out that task. Anyway rant over, though one quick pointer to Mark McGhee, come and sit with us behind the goals and watch our 'expansive' team pattern squeeze the game into one half of the park at every opportunity - honestly its like watching a ballroom formation dancing team. Left-sided bye kick, everyone move to the left, same from the right.

PM Sent

Big Fella - you struggling to get tickets? Could arrange to get them for ya and meet up prior to game for pick-up. Let me know Derek

At least in the FPC you get the 'chips' option - don't even know if that is still available in the 'Cooper'. Not meaning to put anyone off, but the Cooper doesn't provide anything for children that FPC or any other bar does ie: nothing. What do you expect to be available in the Cooper for them, after they've 'scofffed their chips and drunk their Coke'?

Have the club considered organising subsidised transport for this game, as they did several years ago for other Cup games. Given the 50/50 split on cup games, thought it might be in their interests to generate as big a travelling support as possible for this game.

Andy Thanks for comfirming that - I was beginning to doubt my sanity and having checked the 'Well Again book, it quoted KIRK and Wishart as goalscorers. Remember Stevie Cowan coming off the park - his only contribution I think was a wild swipe at the ball on the edge of our penalty area near the end of the game when we were under intense Rangers pressure

Mockchop - Don't think so - the game wee Dave scored in finished 2-1 (3-1 if the goal hadn't been disallowed. The game took place on 7 January 1989 (Wishart and Kirk scoring) - info courtesy of 'Well Again' - not my memory - though I could have sworn that Dickie Gough scored a lovely headed goal in that game. Yabba - you got the video for that year - if you have could you check it out and put me out of my misery.

Jonny - that might have been a Dave McCabe, header you are talking about - was that not also the Dickie Gough og game - though my mind may be playing tricks. Think that was the only goal Davie ever scored for us and it was disallowed. Signed from Airdrie (Spit) and blessed with blistering pace, but certainly not a finisher. No doubt someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Yep Pie my dad said the same thing to me after the game - he wanted a quick getaway after the game and wanted us to stand together, sorry but my place was in the 'choir' right next to the fence. We didn't get home to Harthill till about 6.30 - normally 5.30 after a normal game. It was chaotic to say the least. Oh happy days.

Nice - but Wullie was too fast.

Sad, Bitter and Twisted - even after all these years- Fergie thought he had nothing to do but roll into town, mix it with the 'Big Boys' and move on to the next round. Millar and McLaren soon sorted that out. 'Hard Men' yes but dirty - no - It wasn't the Paisley Panda's that day it was the Paisley Pansies. Poor Fergie bleated about it for weeks, how his poor wee lambs got kicked out of the Scottish Cup - they shat it good and proper. Might need to return that 'Seville' calculator - the batteries are obviously in need of replacement - huge away support that day, wouldn't surprise me if there were around 150 buses that day - but the split was closer to 50/50. Great cup-tie and what an atmosphere, I remember Doug Baillie's opening line in the Sunday Post the following day, " As the Gladiators entered the Arena, the roar that greeted them could be heard at Glasgow Cross" never was one for exagerration was old Doug .