Ya Bezzer!

Another stupid foul given away outside of the box has cost us. Can't these guys remember as far back as Saturday? The disappointing thing for me is that it has been Lasley and Hammell that have given away the free kicks in those positions. Otherwise I think we've looked comfortable. We don't really look like scoring so far but we've controlled spells had a lot of ball in their half and not look ruffled. 0-1 wouldn't be a bad result but if we can score an away goal I'd fancy us in the home tie.

Humph was the best player? For a start he was hobbled for most of the second half and didn't last the game because he was absolutely fucked with cramp. He played better than the other two games this season but I don't think he actually beat a man or put a cross in under pressure. He's fine running into space or taking on players in a race but he gives the ball away far too often if he has a man on or he has pressure put on him. His feet are poor. He can't create space for himself in a tight corner. He's a runner, he tries hard, his crossing was better when he had space and not much better when he didn't. As for Craigan's passing he is a central defender I don't judge him on his passing, I judge him on his defensive ability and his team leadership and I thought he did very well considering Hibs attack was completely nullified in the first half and in the second half we were under pressure from perhaps the most potent attack in the league. Craigan did 80 - 90% of his job. Humphry did 50 - 60% of his but Humphry ran around fast so let's give it to him, eh? It pisses me off when our stalwart players get heavily criticized and players that have never really done it get hailed as heros because they have 'novelty' value or that some people think adopting players that aren't that good makes them 'better' supporters. And while everyone goes on about the 'pish' defending of Craigan and Reynolds where was Saunders for the third goal? He was miles out of position and sure someone could have been tracking back (wasn't it Humphry that was supposed to be playing on that side...oh I forgot...he couldn't run by that stage) but it was Saunders mistake that killed the game for us but it's not mentioned it's Craigan and Reynolds that get it. Imagine if Stevie Hammell hadn't been our best player this season so far - he'd probably be getting it in the neck as well.

Randolph was excellent but I'd like to see the scrambled Hibs goals on the TV. I'm giving it to Craigan.

Humphrey was done. If anything he should have been taken off earlier. The only thing he really has to his game is speed and since he had cramp there wasn't much point keeping him on.

Beaten but not disheartened. I thought our first half performance was superb. We should have been at least 3-0 after 20 minutes and I stopped counting at that point. The equalizer was an enormous blow. To go in at 1-1 when we had blown them off the park for 45 minutes was obviously going to effect our confidence. In the second half things just didn't go our way. We hit the inside of the post and Hibs went up the park and scored. I've not seen the TV pictures but I thought Sutton should have had an absolute stonewall penalty and Hibs went up the park again and made it 3-1. We became disjointed and stretched in the second half but that was only to be expected as we threw forwards on, the players tired in hot conditions after putting in one hell of a shift and we were chasing an equalizer. It was just one of those days, we didn't get the luck and the referee Thomson was absolutely deplorable which didn't help. I'd call into question his decisions in at least 3 of the goals. The problem now is we have 2 away games and its important we pick up some points soon and we don't get jittery but as far as I'm concerned today we played at a Top 6 or very close to Top 6 level and if we can replicate our first half performance most of the SPL will be beneath us come the end of the season. Randolph (7) Couple of good saves, one world class save but I'd like to see TV pictures of the two scrambled goals? Was he fouled or could he have done better? Saunders (6) He's a young lad with a good future ahead of him but his inexperienced showed when we went behind. His head goes down too easily when things go badly. Craigan ( Thought he was excellent once again and played the captain role to perfection Reynolds (7) One bad mistake but he made up for it. Hammell (7) Good first half but was forced back in the second half. Jennings (7) Best of the midfielders Hateley (6) A decent enough display but he can do better Lasley (6) Great in the first half but lost the plot in the second. Probably trying too hard. Humphrey (6) Getting better in terms of attitude and commitment but I'm still not sure he has any technique. Sutton (7) Got the goal but became less effective as we lost our shape. Murphy (7) He showed signs last season but I think this will be his 'coming-of-age' season. Blackman (4) Showed some good touches. Casagolda (2) Not much opportunity to shine.

At home? Excluding the great McGhee season you have to back into the mists of time for a win! 09/10 - D 6-6 09/10 - L 1-3 08/09 - L 1-4 07/08 - W 2-1 07/08 - W 1-0 05/06 - L 1-6 04/05 - D 1-1 04.05 - D 2-2

The big questions are will Aberdeen bounce back or go completely to the dogs and what Hibs team will turn up? Rangers Celtic Hearts Dundee United Motherwell Aberdeen Hibs Hamilton St. Johnstone Inverness St. Mirren Kilmarnock

Our home record against Hibs is pish. I'd take a draw and no injuries.

Surely a lack of height is less of a disadvantage in the SPL than in the top leagues. I'm guessing the average player in the Bundesliga or the Premiership is taller than in the SPL.

Don't know if I feel relieved or disappointed. Probably the 'weakest' side we could have drawn but they will still probably be favourites to win over the two legs - however we have probably as good a chance as we will ever have of getting to the group stages. It would have been amazing to get a Villareal or Manchester City at Fir Park but realistically we would probably have had our arses handed to us.

Goalkeeper and the back four were tremendous but Craigan gets it for a great captains display. You could see he wanted to win this as much as anyone in the ground. This reaction at the third goal was a classic. Steven Saunders was laughing his head off! It was a tough night for the midfielders with us sitting so deep for most of the night and I thought only really Jennings gave an above average display. Sutton took his goal well but he was either isolated or out of position for a lot of the match due to us being pressed back. Murphy was excellent again although I though he looked absolutely done from about 60 minutes on and I was surprised he stayed on - just as well he did!

Shot stopping is the easier part of goalkeeping. I thought Randolph was excellent tonight, very encouraging.

Craigy Broon Special. Score early, defend, defend, defend, break away goal at the end. I was a bit disappointed by the defend, defend, defend part because I thought we made it harder for ourselves than it should have been but at the final whistle all was forgiven. The goalkeeper and back four were immense and Craigan's reaction to the third goal will live long in the memory. Randolph :8: Superb display, not many shots to save but took ever cross and high ball with completely confidence. Saunders :7: Still a bit 'unpredictable' on occasion but overall did really well cos the the guy in front of him can't defend! Craigan :8: Man of the match performance. 6'8 Man hardly won a header, Craigan had him in his pocket, oh and up yours Gannon. Reynolds :8: Another excellent defensive display and made some crucial headers and clearances. Hammell :8: Solid display again at left back, looks focused, fit and sharp. Humphry :6: Started quite well in the initial stages but reverted to type later. Jennings :7: The best of the midfielders tonight, good steady performance. Lasley :6: Not his best tonight, tried hard but was sloppy in possession. Hateley :6: Like a few others as we feel deeper and deeper he felll out of the game. Sutton :6: Excellent goal but the flow of the match didn't suit him. Murphy :7: Must have a ran a marathon tonight, was knackered after about 60 minutes but still set up the last goal. Page :3: Not much time to make an impact but he did scoring the easiest goal he'll ever get. Forbes :1: Hardly got a touch Fitzpatrick :2: Fightin' Fitzpatrick!

I've had a pretty amazing day today - can it get any better or will the joy/misery equilibrium be restored? I think we will rue that late penalty, extra time looms. Of course I hope I am wrong and we wrap this up in the first 10 minutes but my experience of being 'Well fan doesn't point me in that direction.

Typical Motherwell! Did anyone think we would hold out for a win? Still, a good result and if we fail to get through it will because of the home leg, not the away one.

Always preferred Oracle.

This is fucking murder. I'd go take the dog for a long walk but I don't have one.

Good luck paying players in eyes.

It would be if that was the total cost. More likely the whole package, with transfer fee, signing on fee, wages and bonuses plus other costs, would have been at least £500k and probably more.

Gannon had funds, Brown doesn't. Simple as that.

If you exclude Rangers and Celtic, the Tippeligaen is probably as good as the SPL, if not slightly better overall. Aalesund are currently fourth with 18 matches played so perhaps you could expect them to be a similar standard as Hearts or St. Johnstone normally but perhaps under the circumstances (they are in mid season we are just starting) it would be more the equivalent of a Hibs or Dundee Utd. We'd probably expect to beat those teams at home, less so away. I think it will be a tight affair, probably about 50/50 and it could come down to a wee bit of luck.

Does that mean Humphrey won't lining up against Aalesund?

6 against Rangers but also 6 in two matches against Steaua, 2 against St. Johnstone, 3 against St. Mirren, and goals conceded to Flamurtari and Kilmarnock.

Hutchinson has 8 starts in which we've conceded 19 goals and only kept 1 clean sheet. I've been impressed with him but are we all thinking about 2 maybe 3 games and forgetting about the rest?

He's a good prospect but he's not going to oust Craigan or Reynolds from the team and a guy like Steven Saunders is a couple of seasons ahead of him in terms of first team experience. He might just have to sit tight for a while. I reckon if Lasley or Jennings were injured it might be worth trying out in a midfield role, he's good on the ball and is a goal threat and not just at set pieces.