AndyDD

Semi-final, technically, but yes obviously it does say that on the tickets. Still, I fully expect that's what they would try; make these tickets valid for Scotland V Israel: Nations League Edition.

Could do. Unless they move the tournament itself (which of course they might) I can't see them postponing the games. There isn't really any space in the schedule as is. I can see them banning fans, despite this running contrary to the science as it stands (at least in Scotland and wider UK) or maybe even deciding the winners without playing the games (imagine!) but either way yes, for those who would not want to/be unable to go to the other scheduled game against Israel in the autumn you're likely right, they would need to offer some form of refund. Maybe. As you say, one imagines they'll make it as tough as they can.

It continues to baffle me that anyone gives a flying feck about the club world cup.

What makes you think they'd need to refund it? The fans have bought tickets for Scotland V Israel at Hampden. It just so happens that our next scheduled game outwith a potential Euros stint would be Scotland V Israel at Hampden... could just tell us all tickets for this game are valid for that game... Kind of thing has Rod Petrie written all over it.

Dumbarton 0 - 0 Falkirk East Fife 1 - 1 Montrose Forfar 0 - 1 Airdrie Peterhead 1 - 1 Raith Stranraer 1 - 2 Clyde

Positive sign; that's usually a kiss of death for the following game...

Airdrie 1 - 0 East Fife Clyde 1 - 1 Dumbarton Falkirk 2 - 2 Peterhead Montrose 1 - 0 Stranraer Raith Rovers 0- 0 Forfar

Our greatest strength is counter attacking at pace and we have struggled on a number of occasions to break down teams who play stuffy and compact and don't come at us, so hopefully East Fife do come and have a go. We've only conceded, what, 2 goals since the Hearts Cup game? So we're solid enough. We need to have our cutting edge, which was posted missing at Montrose who were comfortable most of the afternoon. And if we can avoid giving away mad penalties like we did on Saturday that will help immeasurably anawl. Montrose losing at Broadwood lets us both breathe a little more easily, but they still have one game in hand so a slip by either of us puts us right at their mercy. Big big game; cannae wait.

He was being skint a number of times, I suppose. Well, fair enough.

The fitness/Injury thing would go some way to explaining it, and yes had Carrick come on so soon after missing games injured only to pick something up and end up missing east fife at home, it would be rightly suggested that he wasn't ready. In that case, though, should he be on the bench? Well, had we taken any of the wee moments we'd had (and Gallagher hadn't lost the plot to give away a stupid penalty) and were at any stage winning the game, I can see how drip feeding those players in for the final 20, 15, 20 or 5 mins to wind down the game and exploit any space on the counter. But with time running out and chasing the game, it's hard to see how Roy was the shout. Smith aside, the starting line up had been good enough to win 2 on the bounce with 2 clean sheets so I think anyone crying about there not being wholesale changes to the XI are disingenuous and would have been moaning about Murray changing a winning team. Two injuries take two of the subs out of his hands as well, but of all the people to throw on when chasing a game, few if any of us would have plumped for Ally Roy. That game has gone now and we need to be keeping our eyes trained on Saturday. Really hope Mccan is okay and that Smith and Carrick are fit to start.

A big game that, going by the previous three this season, should at the least be eventful. East Fife seem to have been on a solid run of late whilst we have been hit and miss, three unbeaten (two wins and a draw at Dumbarton) before a pretty blunt performance in defeat at Montrose. I'd take a repeat of the last home fixture, that's for sure. Probably our most complete performance of the season.

Obviously it's a bit of a two-sided affair, losing when Raith and Falkirk both lose. It means we missed a huge chance to cut the gap and put ourselves right back in the mix, but it also means no further ground was lost. If memory serves we haven't lost two on the bounce all season so this would be an awful time to start. One wonders if Gal has spat the dummy out since Ryan took his place on the XI, because it's hard to fathom why he isn't getting more minutes from the bench and we obviously don't know what goes on in training. Hard to fathom not throwing him on when chasing a game though, in the dying embers. Roy is quicker, and I suppose the management team might have felt his pace could get in behind a tiring Montrose defence, but still; he has struggled to make an impact from the bench all season (let's not forget his really excellent goal in the last home match against East Fife, though. Cherry on top of a good win). For Saturday, I'd love Carrick and Smith back in. Nevermind the top two, we need to make sure we don't lose our spot in the top 4 this weekend first and foremost. 1-4, 4-0 and 2-2 thus far this season against East Fife, so there ought to be goals. Meaning I've just jinxed it and we're in for a stuffy, frustrating 0-0.

Clyde 1 - 1 Falkirk Dumbarton 0 - 0 Raith Rovers Forfar 1 - 3 East Fife Montrose 0 - 1 Airdrie Stranraer 1 - 2 Peterhead

Get to drink all day before going to the game, then back out after it for a Saturday night celebration. Win win. The Raith game getting shifted mid-week is a baw ache though.

Assuming the game goes ahead, any win will do. The hope is that confidence can be taken from getting back to winning ways last week, on the back of an improved performance whilst drawing in Dumbarton, and that this can be built upon further. Would be nice to see the same starting line up; their first half efforts certainly warrant it. If the Peterhead goalie wants to inexplicably gift us a indirect freekick in the box as well, that'd be just grand.

Dumbarton 0 - 0 Forfar East Fife 0 - 1 Stranraer Falkirk 2 - 2 Montrose Peterhead 0 - 1 Airdrie Raith Rovers 1- 2 Clyde

She likes a few shandies, I hear. Family parties must be wild.

Decent number of games at Championship level for Dunfermline in the 16/17 season before his stint in Ireland. Wonder if we are in for him r just letting Dycie's cousin keep fit. An addition we could be doing with, for sure.

It's the hope that kills ye. Every damn time.

Hard to see the indian sign Raith have over us being dispelled this Saturday, their staying power at the top has to be applauded and when we have had opportunities (hiya clyde away, East Fife away) we've blown it. I could at a push see us managing a draw, but the only winner in that scenario is Falkirk, so at least we can expect Raith to come out, which will suit us more. That being said, for an energetic front-press to work you need the opposition to be trying to pass the ball between defenders and deep lying midfielders. That's why we've done alright against Falkirk, who do this, and less so against Stranraer, who do not. If the deeper lying players of the defence get rid of the ball quickly and fire it forward, it takes out any front press. Didn't stop the shouts of 'press' coming from the stands every time the Stranraer defence had it, though. Despite the fact that it was clear they would fire it forward, much like ourselves, thus cutting out any pressing players. So if our front 2/3/4 did press, they were taken completely out the game by the inevitable kick forward. I haven't managed either Raith game this season so i'm not sure how they go; inter-passing between defenders and midfielders, or ball released forward early to push into opposition territory?

Hahaha I appreciate the bail out attempt but, alas, I had made an arse of it. Hands up, fair's fair. You all got my point, anyway.

Airdrie 0 - 1 Raith Rovers East Fife 2 - 1 Dumbarton Forfar 0 - 2 Clyde Montrose 1 - 0 Peterhead Stranraer 0 - 3 Falkirk

Aye you're right actually, forgot the 0-0 early doors. 2 games against Raith, 1 against Falkirk, 1 against East Fife. Essentially, it's tight enough still that these are the results that will decide who finishes where, regardless of what we did on Saturday. Yes, it would obviously have been much better to have the two further points, but it counts for nought if we don't get the better of Raith and Falkirk. It is in our own hands still, going into big big games. Starting on Saturday. A good record thus far against Falkirk, but they do owe us one and are starting to motor. Still not lost since they chucked Ray McKinnon, I think?

Well. Pretty rubbish game and a dreadful result and performance, but we can surely put to bed any notion of Gal and Ryan both starting games now. A concept most of us wanted to see tried but it looked fairly clear to me that it won't work. It also, crucially, leaves us no match winning option on the bench when we start Gal, Ryan and Carrick. Go with one of Gal and Ryan and bring the other into it later on against Raith, would be my thinking. We sacrificed a midfielder for an attacker and it was of course the midfield that vanished without a trace for much if not all of the 90. Of all the players to take off, as many have said already, Carrick wasn't the one. A bad call. So, what did we learn? Roberts is a crucial, crucial player for us. Mcdonald is also a lot more important to the side than we might have thought. We don't have the squad quality to run experiments in league games. And Airdrie fans lose the heid like few other supports out there. Booing, calling for the managers head, the state of some of the facebook posts... we are third and have it in our own hands, given we play the two above us twice more this season. What has actually changed? Yes, we can't overtake Raith on Saturday with a win. But even if we had, it would have put us one ahead of them. Now we would be one point behind them. That wouldn't put Raith out the picture, so getting one behind them won't put us out the picture, either. The reality is that to win the league we need to get points off Raith and Falkirk the remaining two times we play them. That was the case before Saturday's disappointment, too. Roberts, having had a weekend off, will hopefully be ready to go full pelt on Saturday. Get him and McDonald back in. Loathe as I am to be harsh on Gal, our top scorer, I'd start him on the bench and go wi Ryan, with Gal a great option to bring on later in a game I expect will be tight and winnable going into the last 20 mins. Still all to play for. Keep the faith and mon the Airdrie.

Agreed; Correlation does not necessarily mean causation.