Kmcalpin

I think you can forget Russell Griffiths for next season.

Depending on prices and TV the tie might attract 8k - 8.5k fans

Aberdeen V Kilmarnock will be the media's tie of the round.

We have a hard home game against Aberdeen on the Wednesday before the tie. Hearts play on the Tuesday. Not good.

I can't agree with that. The 2 balls are usually put in a fridge or freezer.

Pretty much yes. Not shown on any publicly available footage. As an aside, I was pleased for young Davie Turnbull making his senior debut.

I think today's game proved why such statistics are totally meaningless. We picked up 2 yellow cards and Dundee picked up 1. In point of fact we should have picked up 1 red and 1 yellow and Dundee 2 yellows and 2 reds. There's lies, damned lies and statistics as the saying goes.

We thoroughly deserved our win and odd as it may seem we got few breaks. The lads put in a competent no frills shift and our finishing was marginally better than Dundee's. Although the defence looked solid, Robbo will be a trifle concerned at the chances we gave Dundee, and they passed up. Carson produced a great save; Dunne was terrific and I though Cadden, Tait and Main played well. Although Tanner gave us a bit extra in an attacking sense, we missed Campbell's competitiveness a little in midfield where Dundee just shaded it. Its proving a very good decision though to repel Celtic's unwanted advance for Carson isn't it? Despite media plaudits for playing good football Dundee were very physical and cynical and happy to resort to the high ball when it suited them. They tried to play from the back at times but just don't have the players to do it. Bobby Madden in the middle had an horrific game. Whilst Dundee fans and players alike were incensed that Ciftci wasn't red carded we can point to his failure to issue cards to Kusunga and Moussa. The former in particular lived a charmed life. Madden also incensed many of our more volatile fans for failing to send off the Dundee player who blatantly elbowed one of our players in the face off the ball and right in front of the dugouts. Possibly one of the worst decisions I've witnessed this season. That could have been a game changing call. It was also ludicrous to see Aurtenexte Borde fall to the deck, grab the ball with both hands and still not concede a foul. Overall a good away day and whilst Robbo and Keef will want a word with a few players they'll be happy with the outcome. To beat another Premiership side 2-0 away from home is not a bad result.

Given that the away team takes 33% of the gate does anyone audit the attendance figure?

Charles Dunne for me. Outstanding today.

Given that its not all ticket, the discount for season ticket holders and Well Society members isn't that big, and a lot of folk can't get to Fir Park during the week, I'd expect our support to number somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 fans.

Just to complicate matters, Cedric is suspended for the upcoming Kilmarnock game.

Absolutely. Even the top sides have become far more physical and athletic although they have talent as well.

My prediction is ....Moussa to be yellow carded (if he plays).

At 6-3 he will be, if he plays. It depends how desperate Dundee are. However whilst some would like to see him play on Saturday you have to ask how fit he'll be.

A merited and importnat win last night. The first half was a bit turgid but for once we matched St Johnstone and held our own in a physical battle. In the second half we moved up a gear or two and proved that we have it in us to play some decent football on the deck. The new guys too are starting to get to know their teammates and that will only improve with game time. Great to see Alan Campbell notch another goal and Curtis Main looks a very astute signing. He's as strong as an ox, hard working, can hold the ball up and has an eye for goal. That was the poorest Saints side I've seen for a few years and only in terms of aggression did they match recent teams. Daily Record stats aside the are probably one of the dirtiest sides in the league. Late tackles, two footed tackles, leaving boots in...we saw it all last night. As others have commented Murray Davidson was in a class of his own. The referee was totally inconsistent and made numerous baffling decisions. Interesting to note that younger Saints fans are taking their current poor run very badly as they have been weaned on consistent top 6 success. Enough of them though. We played well as a team and young Alan Campbell was my MOTM. He tackled, competed, ran with the ball, passed and scored. Of late I think he's been a wee bit off the boil but not last night. Andy Rose put in a great shift and popped up here there and everywhere. Curtis Main is a real find. The defence was very solid and I thought Dunne had a great game. In some respects he's very like John Philliben with pace. Softy was an uncompromising defender who couldn't pass to save himself. Kipper and Aldred looked the part. Credit to the manageent team of Robbo and Keef.

Thats about it. Other teams trend to be more streetwise. Poor refereeing is also a factor. On Saturday Osman ought to have seen red but didn't. Last night St Johnstone were by far the dirtier team and could easily have picked up a red card and 4 yellows. Matty Willock's elbow on Campbell in front of the referee was astounding. A straight red.

I agree about how we play ie trying to play catch up. All the good teams though have players capable of mixing it and winning the battle first to allow them to play ie Scott Brown at Celtic. Lets not pretend he's in their team because of his footballing talent. you cite Mark McGhee - I can recall a quote from him to the effect that every team needs a player to "stand on heads"

Problem is, of late they haven't been tackling either! I agree though that Bigi has something different to offer. There must be a reason why he hasn't started though.

I agree with Robbo, irrespective of how you phrase it. I too like our teams to play good entertaining football but they have to do the dirty work first of A) winning the ball and B) being able to fend off challenges when they are in possession. Ideally you'd want the team to win possession without needing to put in a single tackle or challenge but thats an unattainable ideal. If the opposition have the ball we have to dispossess them somehow and if that means putting in hard (but fair) challenges and closing teams down then so be it. When we have possession we have to be physically strong enough to ward off all manner of tackles/challenges/assaults. Once we have earned the ball or "the right to play football" then we can start to play. Maybe Robbo has got the mix or in some cases the personnel slightly wrong. At the moment we're struggling to win possession and when we do have it there is a lack of creativity.

Its a game we should be looking to win as its against rivals and at home. However being realistic we may have to settle for a hard fought draw.

Given the players at our disposal, hoofball is the only game we can play just now. I'd argue though we're not playing it effectively. Robbo's first task was to make us more organised and hard to beat and he's done that. Stage 2, I hope will be to add a wee bit of quality to our attacking options. That should come in the summer.

No, I'm with you on this Al. We badly need muscle and drive in the engine room, just the qualities Kipper possesses.

I understand what you're saying but that would leave us very light up front.

It'll be another shitfest on Tuesday you can stake your mortgage on it. Two teams slugging it out in midfield with errors being crucial to the eventual outcome. It won't be pretty but thats what football outwith the top 4 is all about. I don't care if we play silky football or not so long as we compete and score one goal more than St Johnstone. We have to get wellied right into Murray Davidson and co from the off. We know how they'll play and any young players like Alan Campbell have to be properly briefed before they step onto the field. I'd like us to play more football on the deck but that may not be possible. Frear to start on the left to give us some much need pace but Cifti, the most talented striker we have has to play in and around the box. I don't get why he'd play wide left midfield.