Kmcalpin

Looking forward to Sunday's derby but we must take nothing for granted. Accies would like nothing more than to dampen our day. They'll prove difficult opponents as always and I doubt they'll come to Fir Park to slug it out with us toe to toe and to entertain us. Hopefully the likes of Donnelly, Long and perhaps Cole will be available. Does anyone know whats wrong with Cole and Long?

A very good team performance at a difficult venue and with a few regulars missing. Yes, the straight red card, thoroughly deserved by the way, was a pivotal point in the game but the team stuck to its task and wore County down. I've watched the TV highlights and we missed a fair few chances, as did Ross County (maybe not quite so many in their case). They can't whine about losing late goals as they did the very same to us earlier in the season. MacIver's goal was an absolute belter, and while I doubt he'll do that too often I hope it gives him the heart to kick on and not prove to be a false omen like Marc Fitzpatrick. Gallagher continues to impress and Hylton is improving. The big man is a real threat at set pieces isn't he? I hope Seedorf can find some form and consistency as he has real ability and pace. O'Hara too seems to be settling in although his opportunities so far have been limited. One of the few minuses for me was the goal that we lost. The County player who crossed the ball was in acres of space with Tait standing well off him. He was allowed time and space to pick his target who was unmarked in the danger area. Still Robbo and Keef will no doubt be analysing every mistake as well as the good things. A very satisfying game especially for those who travelled.

I assume Livingston have already informed us about this as they have high moral standards about such negotiations as we already know. On a more serious note I thought that we'd already offered both keepers deals and were awaiting their responses. We need to get one signed up fairly smartly.

Great result so credit to management and the players. Great that big Declan scored a last gasp winner. Are County regretting releasing MacIver? Our travelling support would no doubt celebrate. They deserve this reward for giving up their Boxing Day to travel up to Dingwall. Safe journey back.

We look a bit lightweight up front. If Scott gets injured we're really struggling. Hopefully some of the absentees will be fit for Sunday and there are no more bugs or injuries.

Well the transfer window opens in less than a week so what movement do posters think we'll see? Robbo has mentioned one departure and perhaps one or two coming in. Who might leave? Sloth? Cole - almost certainly. A keeper? What positions will we look to consolidate or improve? A striker? We can't discount someone leaving of course and, if that happens we don't want it to be just before the window shuts.

It'll be a tough one all right and a share of the points will be a decent result. County are a streetwise team as we all know, and of late, have had an Indian sign over us. They also tend to score a disproportionate amount of goals in the last half hour or so; so no complacency or sitting back please if we're level or ahead at the 60 minute mark. They'll have a few of their regulars, like Graham, back today so we can consign talk of their bug to history. As always I hope we can keep them well away from our penalty box and that our keeper is well protected and has little to do. You'd imagine that Polworth will start in place of Donnelly. I've no problem with any ex players of ours scoring for County against us so long as we score one more than they do and we return down the A9 with 3 points. Safe journeys to our troops.

Fair comment. From the highlights we also had a few chances and a disallowed goal. Its history now though and the 3 points are ours.

Yes, we were fortunate not to lose a goal or two but what goes around comes around as they say. Killie have worn Dick Turpin's hat more than once at Fir Park.

Any word of Liam Donnelly?

In general you might well be right, I don't know, but at Brophy's missed sitter O'Donnell is allowed free and unhindered access to our penalty box, only 10 or so yards from our goal, to cut the ball back to Brophy. If we want to sit deep then at least we should make sure that a opponents can't stroll into our box unchallenged. Still, its a small matter in the great scheme of things. No matter how hard they try, a team will always make mistakes.

Just watched the highlights and we played some decent football on the deck. I got the impression that the Killie goalie was unsighted at the free kick as he didn't seem to see the ball - bad positioning? At Brophy's miss our marking was very poor and on that and some other occasions we were guilty of standing off opponents. We won't get away with that slackness at Dingwall especially in view of their ability to score very late goals. Agree with others that Gillespie was very impressive. We're in a good position, just now, to have 2 very good goalies.

Not at the game today but its a good result as Rugby Park and its pitch have given us problems in the past. The win is also the more important given results elsewhere. Carroll is proving to be a useful player at free kicks. A wee bit concerned though that Killie seemed to have missed several great chances. Was that down to scintillating football on Killie's part or us being shaky in defence at times?

Like others I wouldn't be overly upset if he left during the window. He's not been bad but by the same token he's not set the heather alight. Maybe he's the one departure that Robbo talked about? If he leaves we'll need to bring in another striker - maybe a more traditional number 9?

A fair summing up. How long would he take to get match fit?

Yes, I'm reading another two just now. Should have started with Book 1.

I'm not convinced of Grimshaw at right back but there's a reason management has preferred him to Tait at right back. Earlier in the season Tait seemed to have lost a yard in pace and he was never fast to begin with.

Yes. On a 3 year deal too so that will cost them.

So we didn't get it all our own way. A compromise. Dundee FC isn't known for its generosity.

Thanks for the excellent summary Andy. I think that quote illustrates just how vital the continuing Well Society support actually is. Without it I don't know where we'd be. Its essential therefore that members continue to contribute even a modest amount each month. Maybe even some doubters will think about signing up. The money is now going to the club as opposed to previous owners. As for the Hastie fee thats a strange one. We were told previously that virtually all last season's transfer income came from Kipre's move south. If Hastie's fee, if only an initial instalment, was also included it could not have amounted to very much could it?

Is Bob Skinner still on the go?

A very good summary, which reflects my own view Iain. In these games our "defence" in its widest sense including the midfield , hasn't been playing well despite recording clean sheets. Opposing players have been given too much freedom to pressurise Gillespie. As you say most teams haven't been able to convert that generosity into goals but Celtic and Rangers did.

A disappointing day but to be honest I didn't expect anything else. We're still 4th and very much in with a shout of top 6 finish, so we must put the poor result and performance in that context. Most of the team seemed off form and we paid the penalty for not getting the basics right and perhaps not having the right attitude. This was exactly the game that I was hoping Polworth would turn it on; exactly the type of game to showcase his creative skills and provide a spark but he failed to live up to his reputation. It further convinces me that he's a decent bottom six player but no better. Now just to underline my comments, I'm not singling him out for the defeat; not blaming him. He was only one of many poor performers today. We now move on to face Killie and hopefully take at least a point from Ayrshire.

Good bit of business. Another promising youngster.

Even in the highlights from last weekend's Hearts game we saw a fair bit of sloppy defending mainly not picking players up and/or giving them too much space. Its an aspect of game that we have to improve if we want to beat the better sides.