Nigel Blackwell

That was a really good result yesterday. I suspect that on that pitch and with their playing style Bonnyrigg won’t lose many games at home. First half I thought we were excellent and had Bonnyrigg on the back foot, aided and abetted by their comical keeper. Swift praised Yates in his post match interview. I thought he was excellent yesterday with his movement and linkup with Brown and O’Reilly was fantastic. Second half it was backs to the wall, although it took comic cuts from our keeper and a ridiculous penalty decision for Bonnyrigg to break through. All in all it was a really enjoyable afternoon. When you think back to where we were prior to the Forfar game it is quite a change. With the addition of Philp and Brown (I’d suggest he is a more impressive addition than Bryson was ever going to be) then it’s fair to say that there can be no excuses this season. It is certainly the strongest squad in a long time (ever?)

I was contemplating how we would line up today. Will Miller play right back, will Corbett start, will it be a back 4, O’Reilly for Sewell, Yates up top with (Adam) Brown supporting etc etc. With the signing of Brown I now have no idea. Will Philp and Brown will start at the expense of Forbes and who? Wedderburn? Miller? Presume we will be sending someone out on loan. Anderson? Forbes?

Deserved the win tonight. Similar to Saturday we were well on top but fell behind to what might have been East Fife’s only shot on target all night. It was a good goal but Callum Yeats let himself down at the goal. I am thinking left back has become a problem position. One consolation of Yeats poor first half was that it opened the door for O’Reilly. He tormented East Fife. We actually created quite a few chances in the second half and all our attacking players showed up well. Thomas Orr had his best game, probably all season, and Adam Brown has been a revelation the last two games. He even won a tackle tonight. Kieran Miller’s red was for, I presume, an over the ball challenge on Adam Brown. It seemed harsh but it was right under the nose of the referee who had a better view than anyone else. As for East Fife I thought they were the worst team I’ve seen this season. Worse than Forfar. I only realised Trouten was playing when he was subbed off.

A rubbish draw for both teams.

Brennan is not my favourite keeper and he certainly isn’t the worst we’ve had, but unfit? I’m not sure I’ve ever been sold on Yeats, but he has no obvious competition for left back. He seems to lack confidence as soon as he crosses the half way line. I think we would all like to see O’Reilly but in the formation we play, he doesn’t fit. It will be interesting to see what the line up is. Forbes actually did alright on Saturday so I’m not sure he will drop out. As for Jamieson, he struggled really badly on Saturday. Swift was right in what he said about Hester getting in the heads of our defence, Jamieson in particular. I don’t expect Scott Shepherd to cause the same consternation so I’d imagine a Jamieson will keep his place. Hopefully Brown can maintain his performance levels as he was superb on Saturday. He is one player who is suited to the formation we play. So, therefore, no changes!

Was a game we almost contrived to lose which would have been a travesty and in the end we almost came away with what would have been a deserved win. I thought it was easily our best performance and could and should have been a four or five goal victory. The fact it wasn’t is quite telling (although Hester had a lot to do with it - he is an excellent player) For us Adam Brown deservedly got MotM. In the middle, he is the only one capable of getting us on the front foot. I just wish we could O’Reilly into that starting line up. Still early but a team capable of winning the league would have coasted to victory today.

I wondered which Stranraer player we could expect at Ochilview next season. Matthew Grant looked excellent!

It was strange coming away after a good win feeling a little deflated. No doubt a three goal lead flattered us at half time and Stranraer did dominate a period of the 2nd half but on reflection I wonder if we’re being a little harsh on the team. In the second half despite the pressure, we stood up well (Jamieson in particular) and after they scored they didn’t have any clear cut chances. The defence did its job. I’d take that sort of win every week. It’s going to be a tight league. Nobody stands out based on what I’ve seen and there is no team obviously going to get cast adrift. I think yesterday might just be the way it goes this season, so enjoy it while you can! If enjoy is the right word. It was still quite tense yesterday.

No idea what to expect. But actually, it’s Stranraer so we know what’s going to happen. Would be good to see O’Reilly back in the team but from experience Swift doesn’t change a winning team. Until they lose…

There was very little playing it out from the back last night, and we were a lot more of a threat going forward than we have been any other game (Elgin goalie was MotM), but the mistakes at the back are killing us (and Stephen Swift). Higgins meandering with his hand in the air watching Hester stroll onto a pass to score the first and Bryson caught in possession on the edge of his own box for the 3rd. Swift isn't responsible for players individual mistakes, but he is responsible for signing the players that are making the mistakes. I just don't see any way back for him. Watching the game last night, at 2-0 at no point did I think we would get back into the game. Over Swift's entire tenure I can't recall any games where we have come from behind to win. There has been no excitement whatsover, no last minute winners (or even equalisers). I can think of plenty abysmal performances (any time we played Stranraer, the game at Cowdenbeath at the end of last season, Saturday against Dumbo, last season against 10 men against Edinburgh City, losing an injury time equaliser to 10 man Elgin etc etc etc) but barely any tremendous performances (Stirling - 3-0 last season is the only one that springs to mind) He was given breathing space last season on the basis he had to start from scratch with the squad, and there was improvement, but given the money spent on the squad, to be in this position just tells me he isn't the right man for the job unfortunately.

Bit harsh on Cantley, but can we swap him out for Craig Bryson?

Scott Walker is left back. We have actually attacked and arguably have been the better team, but more maddening defending has cost us. Dan Higgins isn’t looking like Swift’s most inspired signing.

Had to double check which team you were referring to. What happens when both teams pass it about well and cough up a couple of gaffs? Could be a classic.

As bad as Scott Walker was, let’s not forget he wasn’t alone. Brennan isn’t our biggest problem but again looking at the 1st goal he was doing his best Superman impression. But Sean Crichton has to take his share of the blame particularly as captain of a team that is so low on confidence. He missed his header at the 2nd goal yesterday and last week it was his mistake that lead to Higgins red card with another missed header. His performances are reminiscent of that game at Stranraer last season, which yesterday didn’t reach in terms of awfulness, but it wasn’t far off it. Jamieson isn’t the same player he was last season so you end up wondering if Dan Higgins is our best centre half at the moment! No idea where we go from here, but Swift needs to get a performance next Saturday for everyone’s sake.

Scott Walker at the 3rd goal. WTF

Sat watching that game thinking this is soooo bad. The worst ever. And then I realised that no, it wasn’t the worst ever it was on a par with quite a few performances under Swift. It was only as bad as the last worst ever performance. Still can’t believe the goals we lost. We don’t pass the ball forward until we are two goals down. We don’t shoot until we are two goals down. There was so much wrong but Scott Walker, Thomas Orr and Ross Forbes is a pretty good summary. Oh and add Sean Crighton to that. Bryson sat on the bench? No Michael Miller? I don’t think Swift will be in position much longer.

Not the day to play almost the entire match with 10 men, so the result was not unexpected in the circumstances. But still Swift’s decisions are baffling. Taking Adam Brown off and keeping Forbes on the park was absolute madness. Actually starting with Forbes was odd to begin with. He also can’t spot a decent keeper. Brennan made one really good save but I bet if you asked him he made 3 or 4 worldies as he flew through the air. He was at fault at the 2nd and for the entire match was rooted to his line. Apart from one occasion when he flew through the air like Superman to punch (as opposed catch) a cross. A keeper who likes to make spectacular saves but can’t do the basics. So, can’t really say too much about the performance. Stirling were nervous until they got the 2nd and we may well have taken the points if we’d kept 11 men on the park, but pressure is building a little on Swift. No doubt. He need a win and a performance.

I was unaware Edinburgh City had an "owner" as such. Which is a little worrying, particularly given what has been going on recently. Who is it?

East Stirling attendance of 80 v Caley Braves?

Stranraer do seem to get a ridiculous number of penalties - this season and last.

Interesting comments from the Annan game about the tactic of playing out from the back. The player who struggles the most is Jamieson (although he wasn't culpable on Saturday). He went off injured on Saturday and Dan Higgins made his first appearance. Higgins is a lot more comfortable with the ball at his feet, so I wonder if Jamieson's injury (no idea how bad it was) will curtail his involvement on Saturday. I'm still relatively positive about our prospects this season. Annan will be there or thereabouts. On Saturday I didn't think that there was much between the teams, albeit Annan deserved the win.

Too many had off days today, particularly in midfield - none of them imposed themselves on the game. Of course the crazy 2nd killed it but we pushed hard for an equaliser. Yates was excellent and his goal was just outstanding. Annan are a really strong team and could well be the team to beat, but they are difficult to like. From the start of the 2nd half their “game management” was excellent (their coach must be so proud) but we could really have done with a stronger referee today.

A draw would have been a fair result. we were on top 1st half, played some ok stuff, scored a really good goal and had their defenders skirting with red cards on more than one occasion. Bizarrely the one I think should have been red the defender wasn’t even yellow carded. Meanwhile we skirted with danger of our own doing a couple of times. Nicky Jamieson is not comfortable playing it out from the back. Second half. What happened and why? Albion became dominant and nobody could have argued if they had managed to find an equaliser. (Although you do have to at least hit the target to have any chance of scoring). Wedderburn and Crichton my top performers yesterday. A winning start but room for improvement.

Agree 100% re the penalty and the impact on the game. A terrible, inexplicable decision other than downright incompetence. We were lucky to still be in it but fact is we had weathered the storm to an extent in that 1st half. But not too downbeat and the real stuff starts next week. Quite exciting going in to a season not worrying about relegation.

Interesting first half in Montrose. We’ve more than held our own and had we been a couple of goals ahead it wouldn’t have been undeserved. The big difference with this squad is that there are no passengers. He has made four or five changes and every one who has come in looks worthy of a starting place. Really encouraging (although our finishing has been abysmal) I presume if we do win then it means we have something to play for on Saturday.