Raith Against The Machine

Given the demographics of the Main Stand, and the coronavirus' penchant for targeting the elderly, you might just find you've got the whole place to yourself.

I preferred Brian Graham's style at Firhill, counting off the seconds on his fingers. He got the full ten!

Hard to argue with what anyone's saying about Malcolm. I predicted Forfar would crumble if the Rovers got a second, but they looked defeated before that. Rarely have I seen a team so totally not arsed at 2-0 down. Very much the case that the Rovers gave away a goal at the end, rather than Forfar scored one, if that isn't complete gibberish.

Not sure what happened at the end there, Forfar looked so unlikely to do anything that I'd stopped paying attention when the ball was in the Rovers half. I'm going to guess... miscommunication between Bene and Munro.

Not quite.

Armstrong off for Baird is a bit of a surprise, was expecting MacLean. But he has scored immediately, so that's nice. We've been terrible since half time, too.

Spencer really isn't at the races. And if Munro and Bene don't start talking, and listening, to one another something awful is going to happen.

As dominant a half of football as we've had in a while. Not a huge number of chances, but a lot of looking reasonably dangerous. Bowie has been a half second too fast or too slow in just about everything he's attempted. It'll come. A second goal and I think Forfar would crumble to bits, but there's always a bit of jeopardy with our back five as it is at the moment. I said before the game I'd have Tait in for Spencer, and I stand by that. I think he'd give us a little more movement and passing between the lines. Spencer has been just a wee bit too lateral first half.

I'd have brought Tait back in for Spencer, but happy enough with that line up. Obviously I'd also have started David McGurn, and would continue to do so until he's picking up his pension, but I can understand why McGlynn chooses not to.

Mark McCallum man. With all our goalkeeping problems, I get huge pangs of jealousy every time I see his name on a team sheet. With all due respect to Forfar, surely its about time he fucked off somewhere else?

Not even remotely close to a foul on the goalkeeper. If anything, he only makes contact with Davidson, who's a hell of a lot closer to dealing with the danger, despite a worse starting position, and the disadvantage of not being able to use his bloody hands.

I don't know why, but I expected more from Falkirk tonight. I was a wee bit fearful going into the game, but the Rovers were comfortably the better side in possession for the majority of the game. Falkirk did have their chances in the first half, but I can't recall Thomson making a save. And then after the Rovers took the lead, Falkirk just disappeared. The Rovers started to look really dangerous and nothing was coming back at them. Thomson's injury was the defining point in the game, and quite possibly in this title race. I don't know how his stats stack up versus Munro, but he's navigated a difficult winter very well, and his kicking alone makes him a much, much better fit for this Rovers team. That shakeup gave Falkirk a bit of belief, along with Miller coming on, but the goal was far too easy. Couldn't see it in great detail from the other end, but it looked like a cross into the six yard box. Munro might be up to four or five of those conceded now. Not good enough. From then on, it went back to both teams being more inclined to take the safe option rather than the gamble, although chances did come and go. A couple of goalmouth scrambles could've led to something for the Rovers, and Matthews possibly should've done better when he scuffed a shot at the near post. Falkirk had one massive chance when someone (McManus again?) blazed over the bar with a lot of goal to aim at. It probably goes without saying, but this Rovers team are ten times better on a decent pitch and out of a gale force wind. MacDonald had another decent game at left back and looked like he's over whatever niggle he had. Miller provides much needed balance at right back, and the two centre halfs were both comfortable with the ball at their feet, and passed well enough, stepping out when necessary. It's probably time to bring Tait back into the midfield. I really like Spencer, but he doesn't offer enough variety alongside Hendry and Matthews. Tait just has a wee bit of sparkle. Armstrong looks like he's getting back into a groove. He'll tear a team apart one day soon. Bowie had his best game in a while, the rest at Dumbarton possibly doing him a world of good. MacLean's finish was excellent. More evidence that if you can create chances, he'll put them away more often than not. So it's all still to play for, and I imagine it'll stay that way. I don't think either side is good enough or bad enough for the yap to be more than three points going into the final day. I just hope the loss of Thomson doesn't tip things in Falkirk's favour.

If you'll forgive me the cheap joke, Munro couldna catch Coronavirus. If Thomson's injury is as serious as it inevitably seems to be, we'll lose a lot more than just tonight's two points.

Disaster. 1-1. Munro flaps at a cross. Seen it all before. Falkirk hadn't kicked a ball between half time and Thomson going off.

Robbie Thomson down injured. Nobody near him. Bene saying immediately he's needing subbed.

How in the name of f**k has McManus not been booked yet!?

Matthews?

The rhythm of the game has been set by Falkirk refusing to cross the halfway line when the Rovers have the ball. The Rovers have actually been a wee bit more direct at times than at any other point I can remember this season, but it hasn't come to much. MacLean is really struggling to impose himself on the game, and Bowie hasn't been particularly close to him. If anything's going to happen for us, it looks likely it'll come down the left hand side. De Vita doesn't look remotely interested in tracking MacDonald, and Falkirk's issues at right back are well known. That said, the chances have been Falkirk's. De Vita slid in and put an effort just wide, albeit he was offside. McManus had the aforementioned unbelievable miss from under the bar, and Gomis had a half volley go just over the bar as a set piece broke down. I'd been telling anyone who'd listen today that the bet was BTTS to score and Falkirk to win. Now, I'd say the first goal wins it.

[citation needed]

I really don't think there's anything to be gained by speculating about Lewis Allan.

I strongly agree with the overall tone and sentiment of your post, but I think you're being very kind to Dingwall. Apart from Nando, who hasn't really had any chance at redemption, he must be the most disappointing player this season. Even Watson and Allan, who had very poor games, have also put in some decent shifts at times. When Dingwall's two highlights are Livingston away (where, personally, I thought he was quite poor) and Clyde at home (he came off the bench, did some running, held the ball in the corner quite well after we'd scored) he's onto a struggle. Armstrong, on the other hand, had some very clear strengths. He drifts in and out of games, and when he's not on form (or partly injured) he really struggles to impose himself, but you can see what he brings. You know he's got that mercurial spark that can turn a game in an instant. I don't see that in Dingwall.

Not content with taking the three points, Jim Duffy also kicked those boys' c***s in and stole their flag. (A quick Twitter search suggests the "Raith Under Fives" had a burst of embarrassing behaviour in 2013/14, culminating in them having their flag nicked by the equally pathetic "Falkirk Fear". No idea how they got it back, but if they could f**k off for another six or seven years, that'd be grand. As others have said, I didn't recognise those characters today, and the Rovers travelling support isn't exactly the Million Man March.)

"Raith Under Fives"

He'd done his homework. Very first touch of the ball that Armstrong had, Quitongo went right and Armstrong hit the byline. It looked like Quitongo had been done, but Armstrong's right foot is only for keeping his left foot company, and I don't think he managed to deliver a cross after that.

Bad choices from McGlynn today. Used Baird in the first half, when we could've been shelling it up to MacLean in the wind, and put MacLean on second half to run the channels in search of balls knocked out wide. I'd argue that Armstrong was the right choice, after his performance last week, but he got nothing from Quitongo. Dingwall getting as much time as he did was criminal. Did nothing. The wingers should've been swapped a couple of times to try and make something happen. Bowie did better with his first two touches, on an unfamiliar left wing, than Dingwall managed all afternoon. Matthews had a really poor game too. No howlers, but his first touch and his passing never clicked. We all know Connor Brennan can't make saves, but he won't get many easier afternoons. After the 15th minute, I don't think we created a chance that wasn't flagged offside. In that second half, Dumbarton must've had six or seven corners, all stuck right on top of Robbie Thomson, including the goal. We did nothing similar in the first half.