Kmcalpin

An important win last night which puts pressure on our rivals today all of whom face tricky games. Accies are possibly the dirtiest team in the league and set out from the off to kick ten bells out of us. Martin Canning must take responsibility for that. They deserved 2 yellow cards within the first 2 minutes and the fact that the referee bottled it only led to further trouble. These weren't heat of the moment incidents - in my view they were premeditated. Lyons tackle on Johnson was a real shocker - fortunately he survived it. We were surprised that Grant was dropped in favour of Ainsworth and this left a gap in front of the defence which Accies exploited several times although not productively. Both sides could have scored 2 or 3 in the first half, although we were the better side. We almost suffered heart attack's when Josh Law's tremendous shot almost found the net ...but at the wrong end. IB's decision to select Ainsworth however was vindicated in the second half when we tore them apart and what a goal Ainsworth first was. Johnson looks a good acquisition and Accies obviously agreed by their treatment of him. We looked solid at the back for the most part although Law's positioning gave cause for concern at times in the second half. Lee Erwin had a useful game up front although he does need to notch a goal and the he rarely won a ball in the air all night against the towering Tena - not surprising though given that the latter is 6-3 or 6-4 in height. Laing, McManus and Pearson all put in good shifts. You had to feel sorry for Keith Lasley as he took quite some punishment from his midfield opponents. It was important to score the first goal and that opened things up for our attacking players. There's no doubt Accies underestimated us and they paid the ultimate penalty for that.

The Society really needs to step up a gear or two on recruitment now. What it is doing currently is fine up to a point (online blogs, Facebook and Twitter messages) but it simply isn't enough. A start would be to widen the range of payment methods - not everyone wants to pay by GoCardless. We have a number of home games coming up and it would be great to see face to face recruitment at these matches - go out and meet the punters, dish out leaflets whatever. How about a stall in front of the club shop? You really can't beat face to face contact.

Is Ramsden not suspended for this game? I'd be tempted to bring in Watt at RB as Law hasn't been playing that well recently and has looked culpable at a couple of recent goals.

Friday's game is not necessarily a must win, although its very important. We can draw it or even lose it and still finish 10th. However we can't rely on any other team we have to do it ourselves. We have scored 2 goals only 4 times this season but half of those have come in the last 5 games. We are creating more chances now than at any time during the season. Bottom line is that 3 points on Friday will be a huge help to us.

Good post.

Fair point Mitch. What is generally less well known about Accies is that they're a very physical side and will throw their weight around. Like a few other SPL sides like Ross County and Inverness they simply won't allow us to play if we look like doing some damage. Going back to the New Year game, on the rare occasions we did threaten them our lads were quite simply and cynically taken out. A strong referee and vociferous crowd are essential on Friday. Lets take a leaf out of Dundee United fans' book and start booing and screaming at any challenge by or foul on an opposition player. We have to wise up.

Very good points. Don't forget Ross County recently got thumped at Pittodrie. Our real fight starts next Friday.

Thats true of any keeper we could bring in. Week after week they are left totally and unnecessarily exposed to crosses and shots. Last Saturday against Kilmarnock is a perfect example. Last night too, the first goal we lost was poorly defended by Law, I think. We might have a number of right backs but few look up to the job. We know about the left, but maybe its time to play young Watt on the right.

Its wrong to focus blame on George Long last night. In general he was continually left far too exposed by his 2 full backs and central defence. Aberdeen were afforded far too much time on the edge of our box and on the wings and it was no surprise they scored 2 goals. We have to start protecting the keeper far more. If the opposition can't get in shots or crosses they won't score - end of.

Tonight was never going to influence our position much. It was the hardest of our remaining games and a narrow defeat was very much on the cards. Our season starts next Friday.

I wonder what Dundee United pay for youngsters (from professional clubs that is)?

George Long is quite entitled to feel hard done by at the goal. The scorer should never have been allowed time and space to get so close to goal and be able to fire off an almost unstoppable shot unchallenged and at close range. It was the level of defending you'd expect to see in a school playground.

Or only clubs who don't want to be ripped off.

You've hit the nail on the head. Defending is a team game and we should look also at the amount of cover in front of the central defence prior to the ball being passed out to our right but yes, Josh Law appears to be in no mans land. Whatever the reason, we tend to lose this type of goal quite often. In the second half Magennis continually had acres of space on our left but fortunately his teammates didn't use him much.

Maybe I'm biased but the amount of diving going on in our past 2 games is nothing short of ridiculous. Managers are standing and watching this cheating from less than 10 metres away and doing nothing about it. It makes you wonder if players are actively encouraged/coached to do this. There was one instance yesterday of a Killie player going down, as if poleaxed, when in fact there had been no contact whatsoever.

Johnson for me. Law was good on the ball but poor off it.

A point won and we're off bottom so thats progress but in reality we dropped 2 points. In general we're playing far better now and creating far more chances. Poor finishing and bad luck denied us though I guess. Referee's decision to book Johnson was nothing short of absurd and if the Referee Assessor agreed there was contact then the yellow card ought to be struck off. Straker was the better of the 2 full backs as Law started out badly and suffered a bit of a roasting but then settled down came on to a better game. Skippy's fine goal was just reward for a cynical Kilmarnock side. Gary Locke ought to take a hard look at his charges, watching at close quarters as he did, several of them take blatant dives, none of which were punished. In fairness though Killie looked a half decent side. Onwards and upwards.

The club will not have paid Gunnar off in full - that would simply cost it more money and be of no benefit. Some compromise will have been reached.

He could never produce his undoubted talent on matchday and thats why he wasn't our number one choice. Two managers came to the same conclusion. An extremely talented goalie by all accounts but he never lived up to the promise.

Agree in principle but the problem is that some wingers, like players in general, may look fantastic in training but don't translate that form to the pitch on matchday.

We shouldn't underestimate our achievement Graeme. Admittedly Brill, Warren and Watkins were all out but the latter two were suspended not injured and that reflects indiscipline. It was also Ofere's first ever game for Thistle, having just signed. We had injury and absentee problems of our own and you equally well argue that the loss of Hammell, ZFA and Lawson weakened us.

I'd go along with that. They're by no means free of the relegation mire. St Mirren also have a toughish run in. A lot will also depend on how the authorities arrange the post split fixtures. As it stands I think numerically we will be due 3 home games and two away. However, we would only be due to play Ross County and Kilmarnock at home on the basis of fixtures after the split.

He should play again this season though there's no guarantee when.

Had a recent setback - 3 weeks. Maybe back for split?

And yet Dundee United and Inverness are two very physical sides who throw their weight around. Inverness were lucky indeed yesterday not to pick up 2 straight reds.