Coventry Saint

I have to say, these relegation threads are always incredible entertainment when there's a genuinely big club with a history of winning stuff involved in them. Ah well, maybe next year, eh?

I was going to say that about Perth but who'd believe it?

Still can't believe they papped us 5-2. Hoping it just proves to be an anomaly result, like when we lost 4-1 at Cappielow the season we cruised the league.

Precisely. The entire bottom six are all very much in the mix still.

Absolute hideous errors set us back there, but we were decent aside from that. Seeing Celtic come to Paisley and play for time at the end (absolutely no chance Scot Brown was actually hurt in that collision with Cooke) showed what a game we gave them. Same old story, though: just need our defence back and we could be in decent shape.

Ah, it's been a while since a Celtic keeper was quietly yellow carded for committing ABH on a Saints striker.

I might be slipping into 'mad as a carton of twats' territory here, or it might be the mulled wine talking, but I've got a weird feeling we might sneak something from this. Proper "Oran Kearney's first game" vibes. Ah well, I've given you all something to quote when we're 4-0 down at half time.

Celtic fans to launch into this thread with chips on both shoulders. Surprisingly touchy bunch.

Was going to construct an elaborate post that built up a credible-sounding candidate before the punchline being that he knew how to beat part-time Welsh sides in European competitions, but I can't be arsed, so... you guys lost to a part-time Welsh side in Europe. Ha ha.

OK, cheers. It's always been the case that he's been better with a decent player next to him (if that isn't a blindingly obvious thing to say). He was was better last season when Mihai Popescu was talking him through games, etc. He's probably not a defensive leader. He was being touted as a future Saints captain at one point. He made 38 appearances for us the season we went up and 42 last season, so it seemed very odd that he was bombed out so quickly. There have never been any question marks over his mentality, and I saw he's been saying the right things about playing for you. Wonder if he and Goodwin just didn't see eye-to-eye, but Jim doesn't seem to be that type of person, either. The whole thing's just a bit weird.

How's Jack Baird been for you guys? We are in the midst of a proper defensive crisis at the moment so a recall could well be on the cards. Would be interested to know what you think. A lot of Saints fans are still kinda surprised he was allowed to go out and, right now, it's looking like an odd decision. So has he been decent? Would you miss him? Would he be straightforward to replace? The trouble is for him, if Broadfoot recovers, and we manage to keep McLoughlin (on loan from Hull till January) then Baird could well find himself third choice, or even fourth if MacKenzie comes back as well.

As we seem to be playing 4-4-2 at the moment, and it's going ok, my priorities for January would actually be another wide player and a defender. Not sure we need another striker; I'm happy with the four we have and I think they'll score if our midfield can settle and start creating.

St Mirren fans clearly waiting for precisely the right moment to get involved and wreak havoc here.

We're not really into must-win territory yet, but a victory here for either side would be a massive boost for them. Having said that, a defeat for Livi here wouldn't drag them into trouble as much as drag us away from it. If results elsewhere go as you'd expect at the weekend, there could be some fresh air above Hamilton and St Johnstone. But it won't be that simple: we have got real, major injury problems at the back. Ironic, really, as that was our strongest area at the start of the season. But injuries to Broadfoot, MacKenzie and, now, P. McGinn have left us with two fit first-team defenders in McLoughlin and Waters, both of whom are on loan and might not be here after January. I'm sure Livi won't be shy about targeting our weak areas. Tough to call this one. I'll play it safe and say 1-1.

MORIAS. MOR-EE-ASS. Three syllables.

We'll 100% deserve to win, though, and everyone will agree.

That is crazy attacking. Gonna go one of two ways, I reckon. But if we haven't got goals in that side, we haven't got goals. No Foley, though, and a patchwork defence. 5-4 Hamilton.

w.facebook.com/groups/2217557490/ He's absolutely slavering. It's actually a bit of a shame.

Yeah, that's what everyone's said.

Nah, I'm one of those controversial types ("dicks", I think they're called) who's quite happy to make money any which way. It doesn't affect how shit I feel when we lose.

You might not like betting on your own team (I certainly don't), but 15/8 for Hamilton here seems like a staggeringly good bet to me.

Even as early as that game against Morton in the LC you could see you were riddled with pace. I said then you'd be a good team this year. It's direct football, but in a good way.

Hard to blame Motherwell for any of this when we've yet to register a shot on target.

I might be a bit emotional at the moment, but it keeps making me well up a bit. It's just pure fucking class.

Like I said...