Kmcalpin

That will be more of a realistic test of our standing than yesterday's game Iain, given respective budgets. I've not seen a lot of Killie in the last couple of years but they give me the impression of being a hard working, organised, robust and solid side, but without much flair. Probably a very different team to us.

Part of our problem is lack of experience in the team. Young players like Campbell and Maguire tend to be inconsistent. For all his faults, we missed Hartley yesterday, when he went off, as there was no-one able and willing to take charge and organise the team. We had a midfield that sat too deep and looked intimidated by Aberdeen, 2 full backs that were posted missing for most of the game and two centre backs, whilst they played well as individuals, didn't play as a unit. I did feel sorry for Gillespie, Mugabe and Gallagher though as they had no protection from the centre midfield nor the full backs. Whatever else we need, we do need more character/bottle/leadership on the pitch.

Interestingly I didn't think that our defence was much worse today than it has been during our winning run. We made the same mistakes i.e. leaving the flanks exposed, letting opponents run at our central defence and fire off shots and gifting opposing strikers room and space in our box. The difference is that a better calibre of team than we've played of late punished us for those same mistakes.

When Aberdeen took the field I knew what kind of game it would be, as they're the biggest side physically we've met this season. We started brightly for the first few minutes culminating in the penalty (I've not seen it on replay yet). Scott's weak effort galvanised the Dons and shook us. Would we have won had he scored it? Difficult to say but I think not. Our problems were compounded when Hartley was forced off and Aberdeen took advantage of us being a man short to capitalise on a defensive error. Questions need to be asked about the delay in bringing Mugabe on. After that the Dons sat back in depth and comfortably prevented us from playing, preferring to hit us on the break which they did effectively. By contrast we looked totally devoid of ideas, unable to breach their midfield never mind defence. After the break they grew in confidence and scored 2 more from defensive errors and looked totally comfortable. We did mount some attacks in the latter stages but failed to trouble Lewis. If I recall rightly, we had 2 efforts on target all day including the failed penalty and one cleared off the line? Well before time up we looked a beaten and disheartened side. over the piece we deserved to lose and truth be told should have lost a few more goals. Aberdeen bullied and outmuscled us and we simply didn't compete. Our off the ball play was woeful and disorganised. By comparison, Aberdeen chased and harried all day and refused to give us time or space anywhere on the pitch, they didn't want to. We were devoid of any sort of plan, disorganised at the back, and in midfield, and toothless up front. A real off day when we were really naive. Still, Gallagher and Mugabe played reasonably well and Gillespie was blameless. We simply weren't solid enough and gifted Aberdeen 3 soft, but well taken, goals. That was always my fear going into this game. I didn't get overly enthusiastic about our winning streak and I'm not overly worried about today. We've now played 3 games against other top six sides at Fir Park and lost the lot. That tell us something. On that evidence, we're not a top 4 side, but not a bottom 4 side either. A long way to go but I suspect we'll finish somewhere between 5th and 8th. A bad day at the office today but I think it has showed, once again, that we badly need a right back, deputy left back (assuming Carroll is ok), a defensive midfielder (Sloth?) and an out and out striker in the Cosgrove mould. Little point, like today, in playing 2 wingers if they have no one to cross to.

I beg to differ. He's come back jaded before from international duty and it has affected his performances. Other teams "protect" their young players from burn out or whatever, so why shouldn't we? The fact that today's game was against Aberdeen is neither here nor there. I know you'll not agree so we should just agree to differ over this.

Absolutely. We should have done an Aaron Hickey/Hearts and withdrawn him from the international games. The fact that we didn't cost us. Hopefully we've learnt our lesson but I'm not convinced. We've taken one for the international squad.

Gallagher for me. Mugabe also had a decent game. They and Gillespie were let down badly by 2 off form full backs and a completely ineffective midfield.

This is exactly the kind of game we tend to blow. However we should take each game on its own. First and foremost we need to be solid with no mistakes. Anything over and above that is a bonus.

Absolutely. Since the early 1960s thats certainly true.

Unless he signs an extended deal, Celtic might offer us £1m+ next summer, on the basis he'll have one year left on his deal and he's had a major injury/still to prove he's fully regained his form.

A fair summing up. Win, lose or draw, our players will know they've been in a game come Saturday evening. We're due some refereeing favours after the last 2 or 3 games, but very rarely get them against Aberdeen.

Spot on.

Is it Yorky? As far as I know, the clubs have to agree a compensation figure within a certain period (2-3 months??? I suspect it's expired)and if they can't it goes to a tribunal. If the Lewis Ferguson case is anything to go by its a very secretive process in line with the "undisclosed fee scenario.

Any updates on the Jake Hastie compensation saga or of David Turnbull's offer of an extended deal?

Don't forget too that Kipre's fee will fall into the 2018-19 accounts. Agree at the moment there's no pressure to sell.

In that instance, Christie walked off the pitch injured but was then promptly sent back on to lie down to waste time as the sub wasn't ready to come on. I've never had the impression, maybe wrongly, that he's a dirty player but 4 red cards may suggest otherwise. I do however recall that he has previous for diving and that annoyed me.

Well deserved call up for the big man. He's been very consistent this season and is a better footballer than many thought originally.

A completely unexpected aspect of the game for me. Despite packing their defence for much of the first half Saints managed to win a surprising number of corners; 9 to our 2. Pre match I expected us to have to aerially bombard a packed defence at set pieces etc but for a long spell, with a few exceptions, we struggled to get anywhere near their penalty box to either win corners or put in crosses. In short first class defending and the way in which I'd like us to see out games in the last 15 minutes or so when we're winning but on the back foot.

He was complimentary to him on the radio but said that he needed to be more aggressive around the penalty box and fire off more shots on goal.

It was great to win a potentially very hard game. Very easy to see how St Mirren have conceded very few goals and their defence, up until we scored, looked as solid as I've seen from a team this season - defending 40 yards out from goal. There's lessons for us to learn there. They were toothless up front though as expected. It was always going to take something very special to defeat them and Scott and Long produced the two necessary touches of magic. Hladky in the St Mirren goal was an absolute standout and it was a real shame he had to end up on the losing side. Enough about Saints though. We thoroughly deserved the 3 points and played some great football in the process although our defence was very shaky at times. It was encouraging to see us play patiently until opportunities presented themselves. We're currently third in the league....on merit. Gillespie again had a very good game and made some crucial saves. Gallagher was again solid at the back, and we needed that. What about his run to the by line? Campbell again had a great game doing a lot of the spade work in midfield, but my man of the match was Polworth. He sprayed pass after pass about and provided that special spark. As ICT fans warned us though he's no goalscorer. A real footballer. Barry Maguire slotted in well and despite some errors grew into the game - good to see him take his chance. Scott was good in flashes and what a goal! Long too looked impressive when he came on and took his goal well. It wasn't all plain sailing though and I thought St Mirren had far too much freedom down our wings. Both full backs struggled a bit defensively but Grimshaw's trademark surging runs helped in part to compensate for his defensive frailty. As one or two posters have said, I thought Hartley had a poorish game; letting his man get just too much space at times and getting caught out. He made up in part though with some do or die tackles/stops and that caught the eye of many. Up front, I just didn't see what Cole offered. We still lack an out and out striker and although we scored two goals, all too often there was no focus for our playmakers. In short, we played very well although there are still some weaknesses that better teams would exploit. The positives far outweighed the negatives today. John Beaton had a reasonable game although he had no major decisions to make. It was interesting that he didn't show a yellow card for a dangerous head high boot by a St Mirren player and no doubt Jake Carroll would have been an interested observer. Not a dirty game, but Danny Mullen, as on his last visit, didn't endear himself to the home support with his theatrics and tantrums. Good to be sitting third tonight tonight - well done to the management and players.

Polworth was my choice but Campbell and Gallagher were also very impressive.

Absolutely. A good shout.

I'm glad Willie P is included. That said I'd hope the likes of Hughie Ferguson, Willie McFadyen, Bobby Ferrier and George Stevenson will be inducted very shortly. Real giants from our past.

Hopefully no red cards, penalties conceded or muggings please. Is that being unreasonable?

Yes, it will be a far tougher game than many anticipate. Saints will not be coming to Fir Park to entertain us they'll be coming for a draw and will sit in. They have an excellent defensive record bettered only by the top 2. Their big problem is at the other end where they're not scoring. Hard to beat sums them up. Its not looking like James Scott will be renewing acquaintances with Gary Mackenzie and he'll be very glad of that. Who'll replace Donnelly? Maguire maybe but don't rule out O'Hara or Sloth. I think physicality and height will be important here if we're expecting to lay siege to St Mirren's goal for a large part of the game. In that respect I'm glad we've got Declan Gallagher. Hopefully we'll be able to win a large number of corners, to allow our set piece advantage to kick in. A close game in prospect and one for the purists I suspect.