Sputnik

I suspect anyone that didn't have the wall directly in their line of view (i.e. the vast majority of people at the game) would be able to confirm the ball rolled about a foot before being struck. But if you remain unconvinced I think the highlights should help convince you. Still a great strike though.

Replays abolished this year (other then for the preliminary round back in August). Extra time and penalties in the event of a draw thereafter. Thankfully it is looking increasingly like we'll not be seeing that today.

Decent? Punters from Ayrshire? Hardly! But not too shabby in terms of numbers I thought, given it's a Friday night and the trains being patchy at best to get back there.

Never realised the Maniqui had been on the go for so long.

Sounds like he should fit right in. By the way, what is this 'play-off' you speak of?

Falkirk's starter for 10 Robbie Mutch Paul Dixon Aaron-Taylor Sinclair Cammy Williamson Mackenzie Lemon Gary Miller Charlie Telfer Ben Weekes Samuel Ompreon Leigh Griffiths. plus loanees being returned Jevon Mills Keaghan Jacobs Jaze Kabia

On 'that goal', whilst the defending is eye-bleedingly awful from start to finish I'd like to just put a question out there that seems to be about as fashionable as brown flares and platform shoes. Here goes... Hey, Robbie Mutch, have you ever actually contemplated trying to catch and hold on to the ball? This palming the ball away thing might be all very good in penalty shoot outs etc but it's utterly idiotic in a packed box and yet we see it week in, week out. (And I accept not just from Mutch, but he does seem to be a big fan of it)

Dear Alloa We couldn't help but notice your commentator's bewilderment at having so many chances in the first half and yet not scoring. Agreed, it seems extraordinary, until one realises you have Conor Sammon upfront. We had two years of that pish going on, which was instrumental in getting us to where we are now - weren't you watching? That's just the way he rolls. We feel your pain. Kind regards Falkirk

In fairness - flares chucked onto plastic pitches is pretty dickish behaviour.

Don't blame you. 18 squids - to miss the first 15 minutes - and then be treated to a 50/50 mix of viewing the football and updates on how a bald guy in the stands is getting on with a packet of pork scratchings.

Commentators - 'great to see a new lease of life from Connor Sammon' Would have been delighted to have just seen any sort of lease of life from him when he was with us, never mind a new one.

Had to try adding another stream - which it says you can't do and then lets you click to go to your basket and check out. Took forever.

Would love to have that = currently still stuck with endless whirling circles just trying to buy the PPV!

All this chat is making me wonder exactly what Paul Dixon did so wrong that has resulted in him always being referred to as Dickers?

From the club website: Please note that two CASH ONLY pay at the gate turnstiles will be in operation this Saturday, both situated in the North Stand. One will be available for home fans and one for away fans. If you don't do cash then I guess your only option is to buy online here: https://falkirkfc.tickethour.co.uk/privateSales.html?deepLink=99&hash=oOxQMHcHWObucIXuSRaO0PttKCE1550

Hard to tell in that picture. They all look oddly alike, each wearing the same (peculiarly oversized) 'exempt' lanyards that DPB suggested that every man and his dog should apply for, regardless of medical justification. Maybe that's why the stewards didn't need to see their digital certificate....

Great being back at the stadium! Thought we were excellent from (almost) start to (almost) finish. Barring a bit of rustiness at the very start and sloppily and needlessly giving away a goal at the end we bossed the game throughout. Some really nice play all over the park and nice to see players raise their heads and play the ball to where players actually are, compared to last season's great balls to no-one. Having up-front alternatives meant that we couldn't just be contained by stopping Morrison, which seemed to be a real problem last season. Genuinely hard to pick out anyone for outright derision today and the number of players that deserve praise are actually too many to go through one by one. Thought Sammy up front showed some promise. As Sheerin said, raw but could come good. Me? Happy clapper? Yup. Now bugger off and let me enjoy it while I can - it's been a while.

Hmm. Not sure about that. I was pretty damned sure the match was going to end in a draw (purely on the basis that it started 0-0 at kick-off)

Re the Telfer and Hall re-signings: I thought Telfer had started to come good and show evidence of his obvious talent after a (very) slow start at the club. His injury was a real blow. Will he re-start in that same place and build on it or fizzle out? Who knows. Its a gamble but arguably one worth taking. Hall? I struggled to see many (any?) reliable redeeming features for much of last season. I am trying to reassure myself with the fact that when Dixon first joined us I couldnt understand why he was played week-in week-out, yet seemed an absolute bomb scare. I genuinely dismayed of seeing him in the line-up every bloody week. Yet when M&M started he transformed into one of our most reliable players and his absence at the end of last season left a huge gap. He ended up being one of the very few players I considered worth keeping. Of course good/adequate defending without anyone able to score will never win a league and our goalscoring ability has been utterly sh1te) I can only hope that someone sees real promise in Hall I training etc and that that'll come good soon. ... and that another management change doesn't result in Dixon switching off again.

Well done to Partick, Airdrie, Cove and Montrose. You got what you deserved. And we got exactly what we deserved too.

A more flighty, inexperienced and impetuous manager might, at this point, think that it isn't really working and try changing things a bit. Fortunately we are made of sterner stuff and can continue with this dreary pish until the end of time.

It's about this time that we we employ our tactical masterstroke... In an attempt to show how committed we are we will do some rash and reckless clattering challenges and drop down to 10 men. Then we will be forced to defend like demons... ... but utterly useless demons, so we will concede a predictable set-piece. and have nothing to answer it with. Because we are sh*te. Optional extras - throw on a useless player to replace a useless player. Miss an unmissable goal line opportunity. Batter countless opportunities over the stand roof. Give away a penalty. Get a penalty and screw it up. Basically just business as usual this year.

Leitch on now. Phew. We can all rest easy now, lads.

Fair play to Thistle. Dodgy start to the season, steadied the ship, then ramped it up when it mattered. Promotion deserved Us? Turgid start to the season with a series of barely deserved results. Proceeded in a continual downhill direction. Then shat the bed when it mattered. Another year in this league inevitable.