Raith Against The Machine

Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Thank you.

It's 'fortunate' in the sense that it's an absolute gift of a penalty, nobody was getting on the end of the cross and it's a ridiculous decision by the defender, but that doesn't lessen the fact that it's a clear foul.

Choosing to take some optimism for today from this post in the Cup section. Dundee's record against Inverness doesn't appear to be that much better than ours.

Feels like we're never away from Firhill, and with the notable exception of a Regan Hendry inspired Challenge Cup semi-final, it hasn't been a particularly happy hunting ground recently. We were absolutely terrible in our first visit to Firhill last season, and it signposted a lot of our weaknesses over the rest of the season. Hopefully it won't be the same this time. Really enjoying watching this Rovers team, and I'm sure we'll get some repeat of the swashbuckling attack that we've displayed so far. The introduction of Euan Murray and the reintroduction of Ross Millen would go a long way to addressing our defensive frailties, but neither are guaranteed.

Personally I love that Inverness Caledonian Thistle are finding ever more creative ways to truly f**k us.

It would been +25 if we'd scored 22 more goals, too.

Hamilton looks absolutely puggled. A second striking option would be lovely.

Criminally stupid. Not a Rovers player getting near that cross. Are we going through here or whit?

I refuse to acknowledge anything that even tangentially involved Dick Campbell.

Could be about 9-4 here. The big source of solace for the Rovers will be creating a barrowload of chances into this wind. You'd think they'd be able to do it again when every Annan clearance is going to fall 25 yards shorter. Our "It'll all be fine with Jack Hamilton" views look increasingly to be based on sheer hope rather than any sort of evidence. Very early days but he's not been the battering ram focal point I was hoping for any time I've seen him so far. We'll see how he gets on in this second half when presumably we'll be getting a few more crosses into him. I'd also be getting Euan Murray on for his aerial presence at set pieces alone.

Aye, I don't think it really played a part in either goal, but it is blawing an absolute hoolie, right into the Rovers faces. You'd think Annan would be in for a torrid second half, but they've handled the game very well so far.

I'd expect to see Murray at half time or shortly afterwards. Ian Murray said he was planning on giving him minutes on Wednesday but the timing of the goals put him off.

This is mad. We could've had six or seven!

Thank you for the guidance. I have, however, done a handbrake turn directly onto someone's lawn. This is the Viaplay Cup, son, we're not here to make friends.

I'm not convinced that Campbell as anywhere near as bulletproof as some seem to think. If Arbroath are starting to be cut adrift as January approaches I'm not sure they'll give him another window.

Any hot leads on where to park for Annan?

He said "Ross and Scott" should be back, I wasn't sure if he meant Matthews or Millen.

Has the club ever done in-house printing on new shirts? Back in the mists of time I had my name on the back of a Fife College sponsored effort, but that might've been done somewhere on the High Street. It seems like a potential revenue stream. It's not going to make millions, but you could add a tenner or so to a good few jerseys.

I don't think you'll find many people who've seen enough of him to really offer a rounded judgement.

There's not a chance the club are shouting about numbers and wilfully not including a bit chunk of them.

It's McGill skipping inside, which I'm only pointing out to dig you out to highlight how well he's done yet again playing out of position. Obviously, obviously, his positioning isn't what you'd get from a natural full back and Killie really targeted him in the second half, and he stood up well with help from Mullin. But it's really that goal where he deserves so much credit. Being asked to deputise at full back, it'd be so easy to err on the side of caution and hold back as that develops, but he's driving on and it's that run and his movement and choices that really make that goal (along with, as you say, how well Easton creates the space for himself).

The linesman checked Stanton. Both players were treated exactly the same, the only difference was that the ball went out of play almost immediately after Fraser Murray was ready, whereas it didn't for 30 or 40 seconds for Stanton.

That was really good fun. Really quite impressive, too, given we've still got two defenders and a proper holding midfielder to come into the starting eleven. Killie played into our hands somewhat, making it an open, back and forth game. They'd have gotten on better just holding the ball and probing for openings against us, but as it was they had their chances but no more than we created at the other end. As the understanding increases there's going to be some unbelievable flashes of football out of our forward line. It's definitely going to be interesting to see just how quickly, and to what extent, Jack Hamilton can click with that existing unit. There are a lot of ingredients there for a really good football side. Far from perfect, of course, and there will always be weaknesses. Kevin Dabrowski isn't the finished article, but by God I'm enjoying having him in goal so far. Euan Murray should held settle things down at the back, too, and of course having an actual right back will improve the defence. I've no idea what this season will bring, almost certainly it'll be another season in the Championship again next year, but I get the feeling we're all going to enjoy the journey more than last time.

Last time I saw a player get an ovation like that it was John Frederiksen away at Stenny. That ended well, right. Right!?

Straightforward overload in our weak right back slot. McGill starts off out of position but recovers to cover the winger and Mullin comes in with the left back, but Ndaba pushed right on too and the two of ours couldn't cover the three of theirs. Once the cross comes in, you're hoping someone can close the door at the near post, but any kind of touch from a striker and that's going in, as proven. We've competed well enough, Smith probably should've done better with a great chance at the end there, but yet again we're playing without a striker worthy of the name. Lots of promising stuff middle-to-front and about four touches in the box.