AndyDD

Thought I might have calmed down by now, but nope, I'm still absolutely fuming at the way we missed that opportunity. Criminal defending at both goals, poor finishing, shot-shy at times and a failure to turn domination of a game against a fairly dreadful side into the kind of comfortable victory we managed in both games against clyde last season. It might seem we were unfortunate to be punished at both lapses but in truth the backline was shaky all night. We looked vulnerable any time clyde attacked and we did not manage to launch attacks from the back as quickly as usual either, both factors likely down to the decision to change things in that area. To surrender the goals in the manner that we did, to give them a chance with a gilt-edge to win the damn thing too, was pathetic. We played some excellent stuff at times (albeit there was a lot of cheaply surrendered possession, too) and should have been out of sight, but we were not. The lack of composure, the complacency at the back, was abysmal. Sort that out and we can and will win the league. Fail to change this and we will suffer more results like that, and worse. A better side than clyde would have punished our defending earlier and more often. Even QP will beat us if we defend like that, and they struggle to beat anyone these days. Huge chance blown.

Clyde 0-1 Alloa Athletic Dumbarton 1-1 Cove Rangers East Fife 1-1 Peterhead Montrose 2-1 Falkirk Queen's Park 2-1 Airdrieonians

It will be interesting to see who plays where now, but that's the Wardrop gap plugged with MacDonald and the left back space filled, too, with Patterson. That's two holes that were left in the squad so good to have them cleared up. Brody is a young player untested at this level, so we need to keep that in mind, but still, an actual natural left back. Lovely. Next up a forward please. Ideally before Saturday, as we should have enough already for tonight

Should be a comfortable win given our league form and obviously superior players, but the squad is still rather stretched and we often seem to suffer a cup hangover, so complacency will have to be guarded against as Clyde have been in okay form themselves of late. Great opportunity to reduce Cove's lead to 5 points, and the fog fair bailed the hosts out as we were turning the screw at the point of abandonment in pursuit of a third, so hopefully the team go into it with the right level of application. If they do, we win the game. If they could avoid gifting a soft goal to them that'd be lovely anawl.

A solid signing. Versatile and dependable, proven at this level and hopefully better for his experience playing and training in the league above. By no means necessarily the area of the pitch we're most in need (unless he is indeed coming in to play left back) but certainly fills the hole left by Sam Wardrop's unexpected retirement in the early autumn.

Haha, just a bit of (bad) luck I suppose

It appears he's going back to Ireland with Sligo Rovers

@AJ77 was bang on when he said that no injuries was the main positive takeaway from the match because you're right, we do need some game changing options from the bench. Gal made a difference when he came on and frankly against most teams in our league this squad, as stretched as it is, is evidently more than enough, but one imagines we'd have had a better chance of forcing extra time or winning it if we had Gabby and Salim available too. There's still the hole left by Sam Wardrop's retirement to fill and we need a left back, too, but an attacking addition would be a big help. We've only three fit forwards at the moment and we start with two of them. As you say, the club are right to make sure they add quality additions who enhance the squad rather than grabbing any old body in, and the summer recruitment clearly went very well indeed so I have faith in them, but the need for reinforcements definitely exists. We're one or two injuries away from a very challenging situation.

The nazi salute guy; Pathetic, thoughtless and embarrassing. Anyway; Looking forward to tomorrow. Keeping the winning league run going and cutting Cove's lead to 5 is vital ahead of a return to that dreadful playing surface on Saturday. Wonder if we'll see any signings ahead of kickoff; thankfully it didn't seem like anyone picked up any knocks on Saturday.

Scoundrels, eh? Bunch of scamps.

Yeesh, I was making a joke on the back of @ShineOnYouCrazyDiamonds post.

Clyde don't seen to have publicised it (no tweet or anything like that) nor have Airdrie, so here's the link to their website to purchase tickets for the rearranged game on Tuesday night. Yes, they are charging again, at the 'reduced price' of 13 quid. https://www.clydefc.co.uk/news/2022/01/21/7020/#.Yer6ENDP02x

'I'm hearing Waters to Airdrie from a solid Diamonds source' will be appearing on twitter shortly

Obvious point, but it would have been an incredibly different game had the linesman done their job and allowed an obviously good goal to stand. Blatant in real time, nevermind on replays, and one expects the home team would have been comfortable after that. Hibs should have capitalised on a few of the dangerous balls flashed across face by Cadden second half, too, but Cove showed why they have been such a hard team to beat since they've come up into the 42, even if they didn't really carve out notable chances themselves. It's a bit shite replays have been binned from this round onwards, and that change clearly served its purpose last night by bailing out the top flight side, but hey ho. Hopefully Nisbet now gives his heid a wobble as he has been diabolical for a while and we're only two injuries away from needing to play the guy versus Ukraine in March. Shudder.

This actually does make logical sense, but, y'know, f**k up anyway. Meet ye in Strathbungo for a spot of teeth-kicking. Pre or post match?

Youse? It's yous. Adding an E, ffs. typical of yous posh c***s.

Thanking you, knew I'd seen that somewhere. So I was right; loan players can be signed beyond the end of this month (assuming they are from another Scottish club).

Aye, but doesn't the window for loan signings go beyond that? Was sure I'd read that.

Agreed. Albeit I do think any new signing made before the game on Tuesday could easily be thrown into the Clyde game without much issue. Loan window lasts beyond end of this month, doesn't it?

I imagine moves won't be happening until after this weekend, when cup games are out the way, so aye, Thistle will have a much deeper squad. They'd have had that anyway I suppose, but as you say, very stretched indeed. Looking forward to it nonetheless, in spite of the horrendous pitch.

Games were quite close between us last season but both sides have improved since then so hard to take much from that. We concede too many from set-pieces so that's going to be exploited in this game you'd have to imagine. I fancy we'll see a cupla goals for both teams so it ought to be decent enough entertainment, albeit the shambolic state of the park (based on what I've seen on the tv anyway) might hinder that somewhat. Free hit for us and whilst making it to the next round would be very good, giving a good account of ourselves and avoiding any injuries to key players would be satisfactory enough. Our form has been excellent but it's a step up playing a decent side in the league above from smacking dross like falkirk, east fife and Dumbarton about the place. We've a win in us, but cup games are a bonus and giving clyde a doing on Tuesday is of far more importance than this tie.

Clyde should be, despite their upturn in form, but the games against QP have been tight. We deserved the win last time out, but it was still a narrow victory against a severely depleted side. I'd not be banking on that, especially if they have a new manager in by then, or perhaps more pertinently, a stronger line-up and bench available. A winnable game and a win should be the aim, but I'm not quite confident enough to call it an easy one, based purely on the evidence of the other matches thus far. First things first, take care of Clyde. Let's not gift them a goal like in the abandoned game. Get a couple early and kill them dead.

The top flight clubs all now having 5 subs might also add to this in a more minor way, but yes, the ever-present covid risk and the fact that january is a bad window for bringing quality in anyway is going to be the major factors. IM is right when he says we should only be bringing in players who will make us better, who will enhance our squad, but at the same time, we are short on options and thin on the bench at present. A couple of good loans, at leftback and in the forward areas, and we should be sound. That both Gabby and Sal picked up bad injuries was very unlucky, really. It'd be nice to have an addition or two ahead of the impending Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday matches.

If I'd gotten my tactics wrong, left Nesbitt on the bench too long and signed someone who ultimately cost us the game I'd be trying to distract away from my own performance as well, I suppose, but I completely agree with you, it always seems desperate when a coach does it. It's what you expect we supporters to do, not the manager or coach.