Lobey_Dosser

United sold Ben Pearson, former under 21 poty, to Preston for 100k the other day after being on loan at Barnsley. Might be a similar move on the cards. Saturday just got a whole lot tougher but we can't afford to gamble on a quick fix like we did with Jake Taylor before heading to Tynecastle in August.

That's a sore one. Terrific player that provided us with some much needed balance. He'll be hard to replace.

It's been a few years since I moved from the East to the back row of the Cooper. So up until the weekend, could you get away with standing behind the barrier for the bulk of the game? Stewards used to pretty tetchy if you attempted to stand there for a few minutes.

Glad to be at home. Game against the Cup Holders is always going to be a tough one but hopefully our desire for an overdue cup run gets us over the line. Have we ever beat Invernrss in the cup? I can recall 2 defeats.

Would have fancied a trip to Dunfermline but the likelihood is Ross County will progress. Dumbarton away please.

4th game in the trot I've voted Skippy. Great to see him in such good shape and form, long may it continue. Pearson isn't far behind him in performance level.

Credit to McGhee going with his strongest team. And he was rewarded with the job being done in 6 minutes. As has been mentioned, it could have been 8 or 9 if we weren't obsessed with teeing up Faddy. Only disappointment of the day was Dom Thomas not making the most of a rare opportunity. All the skill in the world but he done little to suggest McGhee could trust him in a premier league game.

Backup and long term replacement for Hammell would be a priority of mine. We fall apart whenever he is out the team. Tam Scobbie though, never been impressed.

I'd give Cadden and Laing or Kennedy a run out but otherwise start full strength. No messing about here hopefully.

Would be gutted to see Ainsworth go. A regular match winner who's consistency and work ethic have been largely excellent in the last year. However, McGhee's shift in formation and love for Marvin may have prompted Ainsworth to consider his future; particularly when he was subbed at Parkhead after coming on at half time and changing the game. Regarding Dom Thomas, he didn't make bench either.

Skippy for the 3rd game in a row. We'll do well to hang onto him in January.

That felt like a proper New Year Derby, a rare occurance in my time. Big Motherwell support, good atmosphere, plenty niggle between two committed teams, a poor ref, plenty goals and good entertaining football at times. Most of the team played really well in spells, good to see Moult back to his usual self and Skippy was motm yet again. Credit to McGhee for the turnaround, the games can't come quick enough at the moment. However I think he will regret showing faith in Theo Robinson today. Subbing a workhorse like Moult for a sand dancer like Robinson unhinged our ability to keep possession high up the park and aided Accies onslaught. All in all a really good dayout despite the huge disappointment of dropping two points. Hopefully the fans turn up in similar numbers next week.

How has Moore being doing at Ayr? If he could return to the player pre-injury, then there is something there for McGhee to work on. Expect the likes of Theo to be out the door but wouldn't give up on Fletcher if he is fit. Definitely capable of making an impact at this level.

That was a fascinating watch.

Think Kennedy's absence from the squad must be down to more than form. Strangely, I thought he was establishing himself as one of McGhee's favourites.

Skippy but Marvin and Ripley deserve special praise.

Enjoyed that tonight, a hard thought victory against an unfortunate St Johnstone. Thought we played some really good stuff at times without hitting Parkhead levels. Great to see Marvin in full flow and Ripley proving me wrong, his first save changed the course of the game. Special mention for Skippy who has been back to his best in recent weeks. We are very fortunate to have a player of his quality.

This better be on as I'm missing my festive fix of football. For all those who want summer football, the Christmas holidays would drag on forever without football.

The niggling concern with Erwin was whether he'd manage to keep his feet on the ground and going by Evans comments, he has failed to so. Hopefully he gets himself sorted out. More than good enough to have an impact in English championship. As it happens, McGhee would have been excellent for his development,

Also a competent keeper with a work permit. On the plus side, we now go into two difficult but winnable games at Fir Park with fresh legs that could propel us up the table, weather permitting.

Wiuld like to think our sponsorship from next season will reflect our community ethos.

Sore one. I don't doubt the rain has been heavy up there but less and less effort seems to be made across the country to get games on. The first weekend in December the perfect example with early call-offs at Tynecastle and Psrkhead. Reckon we'd have taken a good crowd up today but will now probably take up a couple of hundred miles midweek. At least there is plenty of other good sport on today.

If we can play like we did yesterday, then there is potential to destroy them on the counter attack. However Tannadice is never an easy place to go and the game is absolutely massive for them, they'll get tore in about us. A point wouldn't be a disaster but the important thing is that we continue to put in and organised and energetic performance like we have in recent weeks. Looking forward to heading up there.

Said it many times but Motherwell moaning about the expense of Europe, making losses, asking the fans to dig deeper made you wonder what's the point in success and escalated the slide in home attendances. This was compounded by an increase in ST price in conjunction with £25 tickets to play Starjnan, a game we failed to prepare professional for. If crowds are going to increase, it will be due to the young players making an impact and generating excitement. I think we may be on the right track there...

Hall looked comfortable yesterday, well led by McManus and Hammell. He'll have far tougher assignments though as Celtic never got going.