Ten Caat

I agree they aren't great but when they put out a team comprising of 80-100% of players Brenda would regard as his "first picks" they are generally far too good for anyone else in Scotland. They will suffer the odd setback away from home (don't think sevco will beat them though) but they'll sort out their deficiencies in the January window....striker and right back for starters......and pull away from the chasing pack steadily. There's no disgrace in Celtic beating us with their financial advantage. But DM has to realise that us sitting back, inviting pressure, conceding 65%+ of possession will generally result in us suffering a defeat.

2 reasons...... Firstly the team that Hivs faced was a lot different to the one that we faced. Brenda brought back players he rested or were unavailable for whatever reason against the spoonburners. The side that we faced was pretty much their first choice starting 11 with the exception of Christie starting in place of Edouard and Tierney being out injured. Whilst we were shorn of Devlin, GMS and Lowe. Secondly, Lennon recognises that Hibs cannot successfully sit back against anyone, never mind Celtic, and hope to take anything from the game. So he sends his team out to have a go at Celtic's weakness, which is indubitably their back line. They got lucky scoring in the first minute which meant Celtic had to chase the game fielding a weakened side, but still Lennon kept his team pushing forward. Attack is the best form of defence!

What might have been Dhims targetted Logan as the weak link in our defence. Proved a successful tactic in the end but the 3rd and 4th goals we conceded both he, Ball and McKenna were all culpable. Considine cops the blame for the second. First was a well worked effort. First half we deserved our equaliser and was a definite penalty though a stupidly conceded one on Izaguirre's part. Our second was a definite dive by Shinnie but well put away by Cosgrove who was quiet today but confidence must be sky high. Ferguson looked tired and he will now get his much needed rest this coming weekend. McKenna was m.o.m. until his poor showing in the last 10 minutes, probably would give it to May for his fantastic work rate. Wright sadly another chance given and another chance not taken. With our injury list he will probably feature against Livi in some capacity but needs punted out on loan in January. Final score flattered us a bit but at least we aren't suffering 3 goal or more margins of defeat against them now. Hopefully they'll pump sevco Sat lunchtime and allow us the opportunity to draw level on points with der hun later in the afternoon.

Also don't get the clamour for Gleeson but not for the reason Rico gave. Quite obviously he has the most quality of all our midfield options but we know he's out of gas after an hour and has to be subbed off as he becomes a liability. Until he improves his stamina to an extent where he can last the full 90 minutes he should be an option off the subs bench only. However if Ball still has the flu and Shinnie is needed at left back then we might be forced to take the risk and play him from the start and just pray we don't suffer a few early injuries. No word on Lowe's fitness so fingers crossed we are going to spring a surprise when the teams emerge for the warm up and he's fit to go but i think I'm clutching at straws here. 2-1 (May, GMS (pen))

And right on cue St Johnstone take the lead

Slippy G interview at McDiarmid.....Lee Wallace on bench today but says he's had a chat with Wallace about his future. He made it clear that Barisic is his first choice left back and with 6 months left on his contract it is up to Wallace if he wants to stay in the knowledge he is a bench option at best. If he wants to play football......inference was he is free to go in January. We need a left back.....Consi too slow and Shinnie considers himself a midfielder.....I hope I'm putting 2 and 2 together and making 5 but I can just see McInnes' eyes lighting up at this info. Anyway come on the fermers!

I was a bit puzzled when we threw on Gleeson for May but with hindsight made perfect sense as we were second best at that time, Hearts were passing the ball around well albeit with no great end product (and Mitchell's attempted shot that ended up doing out for a throw in 10 yards behind where he shot from was comedy gold ). Gleeson allowed young Campbell to play a bit further forward taking him out of the firing line. Just a pity Gleeson cannot last longer than an hour before running out of gas as you can see he does have a bit of quality about him. May, Ferguson, Logan, McKenna all excellent.....Joe also worth a mention, didn't have a lot to do but kept us ahead with a great save first half when Hearts cut us open with a free kick (MacLean really should have scored though). But Cosgrove again gets m.o.m for his goals and all round performance. Can really see his confidence growing with every game and hopefully he can cause the Dhims a few problems on Boxing Night. Shame about Lowe's injury, really hope it doesn't stop him playing in what would be his final 2 games. If he really is crocked then I hope he can at least come on to the pitch at the end of the Celtic game so he can take a final bow in front of the home fans. I think this boy will be in the England set up within 2 years and playing at a far bigger club than Derby. Results elsewhere generally suited us too. Hopefully the fermers can do us a wee turn tomorrow as well. SF

FFS hes taking penalties now 2-0

Gleeson on for May

And Livi take the lead at Hivs

Rocket's Arbroath game not exactly going to plan for him

Lucky to get away with one there well worked fartz free kick, McLean clean through on goal but Joe saves the day. Still cannot see why our "second" goal was chopped off

Beaton having a fucking nightmare worse than Dallas

Cosgrove again!!! £20k looks like a steal now

^^^^^ He's started early

Would still like us to whack in a £750k offer for Lowe if McKenna gets sold in January. No idea if Derby would bite nor if the player himself would be willing to join up but I think the question should at least be asked. If we got lucky I have no doubt we would be sitting on a £5million asset within a year. However I have a horrible suspicion that we might instead find the grass incoming from sevco.....

At the time I was a night Charge Nurse. Saw most of the first half at home then drove like a maniac into work. Having taken the handover and delegated duties to others, attempted to watch the remaining 20 minutes or so on the TV in the patient's lounge whilst simultaneously dishing out the night medications. Not recommended practise and against all protocols but everyone survived unscathed. Fantastic night.

Agree stick with the starting eleven, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Sadly I think your hope about Forrester will be a forlorn one. He's shyte of the levels of Gary Hackett, Leigh Hinds and Nigel fucking Pepper.

Hearts for a start. Sure theyve signed some dross but theyve got Haring who would be in our team without a doubt, Zlamal their 'keeper, Bozanic and some guy who signed a pre contract in summer who is joining them in January. Hibs......Kamberi who is Swiss i think and Slievka from one of the Baltic states. Hamilton.........Mucha a Slovakian, and Tshiembe....African but signed from a Danish club Dundee......Kamara who is Finnish as is Kallman. Mendy who is Norwegian Even the caravan dwellers have Safranko who is being touted for a move to a bigger club Quod erat demonstrandum

Correct. Celtic have been poor up till now but had a particularly bad transfer window in August compounded by a few injuries and the Thumb's mental breakdown. They'll spend cash in January of a level that no one else in Scotland can contemplate to rectify their shortcomings and despite still suffering the odd setback away from home on the way, will have the league title wrapped up with at least a month of the season to go. Second place however, is very much up for grabs. Sevco will spend around 5 million in January but Slippy G is no tactical genius and his summer recruits generally have proved to be meh at best and utter shyte in a few cases. Should McKenna be sold, there are relatively cheap potential stars all over central, eastern and northern Europe just waiting to be plucked. Do I trust DM to find them.......do I fuck sadly.

I have to admit after going 12 points behind Hearts so early in the season that, despite Celtic and sevco almost starting as badly as us, I'd pretty much written off any hope of qualifying for Europe through a league placing. That we have not just caught Hearts but actually overtaken them prior to Xmas is pretty astonishing. But they have suffered an injury list to their first choice players that no one could have foreseen and it turns out Levein's Galactico's back up options are nowhere near the standard required. Hivs, who also had a substantial lead over us, have bizarrely crashed in an even worse fashion without suffering an obvious run of injuries other than can be expected over the course of a season. They are now showing signs of a recovery and absolutely showed us the way to take on the Dhims at the weekend.....have a f@ckin go! Kilmarnock have punched far above their weight ever since Clarke took over. The winter break is coming just at the right time for them but their squad is paper thin and even a couple of injuries to the wrong men after the break would surely see them tumble down to a mid table position where they really should be. So European qualification is now purely in our own hands. Looks like we are losing Lowe and probably McKenna in January so we will need to recruit well in order to maintain our place. Sevco will spend a few million on 2 or 3 new acquisitions but with a bit of ambition from the board there's no reason we cannot finish above them yet again.

Guys of Cosgrove's size always look ungainly when on the run. Their centre of gravity is just too high for their own good. Throw in a ball at their feet and the results can be hilarious/catastrophic in equal measure. Remember van der Ark? Same thing happens in nature. Look at giraffes running...

& I am finding a distinct level of hunnishness in his postings.... In the words of suspicious orcs on their boards (especially after a defeat when the meltdown is hilarious) "Sniff sniff"

Would happily have taken a scrappy 1-0 just to keep the run going but what a pleasant surprise! Granted Dundee were absolutely atrocious but some of our attacking play especially first half was great to watch. Obviously Cozzie and Consi get plaudits for their goals as does McLennan for his plus his overall contribution but m.o.m for me today was Shinnie. I know his overall game is limited but when he sticks to doing what he does best....winning the ball and giving it to more skilful players who can damage the opposition.....he is an asset. Forrester cameo told us exactly what we already knew......there is a player in there. Unfortunately that player is the ghost of Bessie McGinty from Auchenshuggle Rovers Ladies reserves 1947-48. Wilson not much better.... Onwards to the Hearts game on Saturday. Hopefully Hivs and 'Well can do us a turn tomorrow night. SF

Forrester takes 3 corners in a row...makes a pigs arse of every one