pretzel

Nick Walsh the ref.

It's refreshing to see Beaton and Dallas getting called out far and wide, we don't usually get that type of exposure. It's also laughable that Celtic fans are actually creating AI and photoshop images of the incident, so much so that SNS Group have had to put out a statement. What a coward Beaton is btw, what annoys me more is that it was our throw in at the edge of their box that he awarded to them which allowed them to get up the pitch. In Collum's latest apology video he keeps talking about rushed decisions (ironically the one of ours against Falkirk) and then this happens unsurprisingly. Then he sees a pitch invasion and can't get off the pitch quick enough.

The game will be shown on the Motherwell PPV for £15 squid for anyone that cant make it.

Hopefully, O'Neill gets flashbacks to Skippy Sunday again. Someone mentioned previously that they will be up for it from the go; no doubt they will try to go for the jugular early, but I think that will work in our favour and give us space to break, fully confident that Tawanda will return to form to close out the season. The December game was tremendous; they were chasing shadows all game. Tierney was hooked at halftime as he couldn't withstand the pace, and all the other defenders were getting tied in knots and kicking everything that walked constantly, and all of them were booked despite the repeated fouls. While admittedly a different proposition this time round, they need the win, they'll have their eyes on the Falkirk and Hearts game, so for all the dodgy decisions and last-minute play to they score goals injury time goals, it's rare we have the chance to kick them in the baws, so let's get it done.

It’s the inconsistency in decisions that’s actually doing my tits in. You can say what you want about Slattery, but the St Mirren player turned and actually swung at him. We were all debating afterwards if he’d caught him, it’s a red all day no question, but I always thought the intent was enough. Same as when a player flies in two-footed (like Lee Lucas did) but still misses, players know VAR is watching now so its a waste of time feigning things. Slattery still got utterly vilified, yet Cantwell was pretending he’d been elbowed in the face a few seasons ago at Fir Park, ironically against Slattery, and that just gets brushed off as per, no meltdown. Then you’ve got that 7-minute spell against Falkirk last week. The ref was atrocious - gave them a free kick when McGinn was fouled first, let a blatant foul on Just go without even a word, and then the coup de grâce: the missed penalty and the sending off. I say 7 minutes, but the whole game followed the same pattern. Even in one of Willie Collum’s reviews, he talks about a similar incident where no penalty was given when a player’s head was clipped at knee height, and the reasoning aligns with putting himself in danger. You just know he’ll be inconsistent again the next time he’s on. After all, he was greeting about the Balmer decision last season against Killie where the player was entitled to challenge for the ball, but Kofi wasn't. It still boggles my mind that we had 100 world class appilcants and he's the one for the role. Back in the day, when wrongful red cards were quickly appealed I think 8 or so from Collum was successfully appealed over the piece, whereas others were 1. Honestly, what is the game coming to when players are getting sent off for DOGSO on the halfway line? Or even reading Kevin Clancy's description of the Celtic incident. I would love to be optimistic and say it's going to get worse before it gets better, but I'll just stick to it's going to get worse. More changes around the World Cup will happen as per, then you have Arsene Wenger's offside rule currently getting tested, then that will be implemented no doubt, but it will still contain the same old annoyances. Apologies for the moan but I can seldom muster up the strength to post on here nowadays, so thankful that we have been playing the way we have been. It would be nice to see more emphasis put on it; they did a questionnaire in the summer and released the results, and most people who voted wanted it rid of. I think they even started a petition or something on change.org, I'm positive I remember that being at 1.5k signatories.

Not that long ago, Slattery got sent off (two yellows), holding off Cantwell versus Rangers, and he went down holding his beek, feigning injury. Nothing was made of that other than Celtic supporting former refs in the tabloids saying Cantwell cheated. Someone mentioned they have opened up a can of worms; experience says the next time, they won't address it consistently. I'm delighted with the football we have been playing this season, it's honestly been some wonderful stuff, and other teams have been boasting some great crowds, the best in years, but these dickheads are killing all enjoyment.

Looking forward to the game — no doubt it’ll be a tough nut to crack. It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if it went all the way to penalties, though I’m not sure my heart could take that, to be honest. Hopefully it’s one of those days where everything just clicks for us, because the football we’ve been playing lately has been a real joy to watch. I’ve been impressed that we’ve started adding more variation to our play too — moving away from the “keeper must pass out under pressure” routine and going a bit more route one when the situation calls for it. They’re definitely a team we owe one to in cup competition. Ever since Darren Smith scored his first goal for the club as a 17-year-old at Love Street in the League Cup back in 2005 (he’s 37 now!), they’ve had the better of us — knocking us out of the Scottish Cup three times and the League Cup once since then. I still have nightmares about Billy Mehmet’s late winner, and that first half in the 4–4 draw in 2020, which ended with arguably the worst set of penalties we’ve ever taken. Here’s hoping we can build on the feel-good factor around the club and make it a memorable win.

Apologies if I’ve missed it if already mentioned, but does anyone know the deal with the bus tickets? I ordered online and received the confirmation email when I bought them, but no tickets were attached. I received the confirmation of which bus I’m on yesterday, but still no tickets to print or anything.

What can you say. So frustrating as it was a magnificent performance for the first hour absolutely blew them away, Ward gave them two gift wrapped goals but made a few fine stops late on. Just a shame we couldn't get another with decent chances for Hendry and Fadinger.

He did play under Stuart Kettlewell so that first season makes sense.

Delighted with the signing but this is probably the point I'm told he's no good because he scored three goals against us in a defensive that contained the likes of Mugabi and McGinley.

Hale and Murray never played together at County. He was a stand out for County in a poor team and tore us apart at Fir Park. Can't believe some are turning their nose up at someone who scored 18 times last season. Obviously we won't pay what County want anyway.

James Scott joins Ross County on loan from St Mirren.

He walked past me at the game yesterday wonder what the issue may be if true.

Steven McLean is the ref for the game with Andrew Dallas on VAR