Raith Against The Machine

Specifically made sure it was. Really need another one where Abe burls round and then continues on into the Maison Derriere now, right enough.

We've signed a goalkeeper on an emergency loan? Let's go to Eric Drysdale for his reaction...

I can't remember the last time I saw a team play as badly as Thistle have here, and I support Raith Rovers.

Did I miss Thistle having two men sent off? They can't get near the ball.

Brian McLaughlin's a useless puddin', eh?

Have you not been paying attention to Thistle, Caley or the Rovers lately? There's absolutely no chance that Arbroath finish lower than second. Those three sides can barely muster enough to earn fourth, nevermind third.

Ya c**t, Thistle defending like a Subbuteo team.

Ally Greer getting himself involved up top for Thistle.

Mackie came on at centre half against Celtic. McGlynn mentioned he'd played there for Hibs in a bounce game against the Rovers prior to his move. He'll play in central defence before Dick.

Just to update this with a bit of categorisation, for anyone looking in: Red indicates players who are confirmed long term injured. Purple represents unconfirmed injury status. Gullan and McKay didn't make the bench on Saturday, MacDonald and Berra were both first half subs with pretty serious looking injuries, although there's been some word that they might not be as bad as first feared. Green is suspended. Pink is international duty. Orange is out on loan.

I don't think we need another thread to discuss John Hughes.

So he is. lol

Jamie Gullan also missed out on Saturday...

McGlynn's hearing for his red card isn't until 14 April, so presumably he'll still be available for Saturday and for the Challenge Cup final.

We're also just assuming Dave McKay will be available. He didn't make the bench on Saturday and there were two empty slots.

McGlynn brought in Sean Mackie, ostensibly to replace Dick, but he's not exactly hit the ground running. It's not easy to come into a team on a really poor run, and he hasn't been appalling by any measure, but I wouldn't say he's been a noticeable upgrade either.

Hahaha! f**k sake! That's quality for Frankie but deary me, it never just rains, eh? We'll almost certainly be without five of the players who started against Caley Thistle, not to mention the manager, and that was a team that was already injury hit! Unless there's a free agent found down the back of a sofa somewhere, we'll be starting the game with our only fit goalkeeper and our only four available senior defenders. We'll have an apprentice left back on the bench. Brilliant stuff.

I only skimmed through the highlights last night and I'd forgotten about Austin Samuel's booking. Straight leg, studs up... yellow card. Nae bother.

Aye, because of the angle you don't get a great look at either Bene's challenge or Broadfoot's reaction. If you wanted to find a justification for Benedictus you could maybe argue that although he was off the ground and lunging he'd grounded his foot and pointed his toe (ie, not studs up) before he made contact with Broadfoot, but I'm not convinced. As soon as he overplayed the ball I knew exactly what was coming. It's not malicious, but it's not the first time he's dived into a challenge in that manner. At the very, very least he's asked the referee to make a decision.

It didn't have any bearing on the result, but Ben Williamson's second yellow is an absolute belter. Gets tripped as he's running past the defender, who then gets up and shoves him in the chest, which Williamson doesn't react to. Yellow card apiece.

Oh aye, so it was! Which makes it all the more ridiculous, not only because that challenge looked more like Williamson was clattered into than did any clattering, but also means Williamson wasn't booked (and neither was the Caley player) for a head-to-head in the first half that was identical to the one at the end. Just a totally shambolic refereeing performance.

There must be a fairly reasonable chance that our four most important players - Vaughan, Spencer, Berra and MacDonald - don't play another game this season.

I didn't see the initial coming together, the impression I got was that Williamson and the defender just came together as they were running. They then went head-to-head, I don't know who instigated that, but the referee then booked them both. I can't remember what Williamson's first booking was for, it's not mentioned in the live updates.