Nigel Blackwell

Great news. Nicky is my Player of the Year so far, He was already one of our better players but his performances this season have taken him to another level. He has even added “ball playing centre half” to his repertoire. We will miss him the next few weeks.

I see we've twittered a cryptic message - goalie gloves. Presume it means Jamieson has signed a contract extension?

Elgin City 1 Dumbarton 0 Forfar Athletic 2 Bonnyrigg Rose 0 Peterhead 1 Stenhousemuir 0 Stranraer 2 East Fife 1 The Spartans 1 Clyde 1

Why give him any attention. Like most others have done, just block him.

You've got to be appealing that red card. Bonkers decision. Looked like another afternoon of getting the lead and then relying on the backline to repel whatever comes their way. Our toughest fixture in the league next week. Win that, and even I might start believing. But I'd take a point.

Is Ross Taylor available for this game?

East Fife 1 - 2 Peterhead Stenhousemuir 2 - 1 Stranraer

At some point in time we won’t win but with each passing game, you wonder why? Our defence is so strong that teams just can’t break through. First half Spartans bench shout to the team “keep the ball away from the centre halves”. They spend the rest of the game launching the ball towards Kinlay Bilham who didn’t lose a challenge the whole game. Aside from Henderson’s chance in the 2nd half, which was about the only time they tried to play the ball on the deck through our backline, and the disallowed goal in the first, Spartans didn’t come close to threatening. We really should have won more decisively today, but 2-0 will do me!

I think Kian Leslie played for Clyde

Bonnyrigg Rose 1 Dumbarton 1 East Fife 2 Clyde 1 Forfar Athletic 0 Elgin City 0 Stranraer 2 Peterhead 0 The Spartans 1 Stenhousemuir 1

Think he has played a few games as a Trialist - maybe can’t play anymore as Bo’ness were playing yesterday while he was at Ochilview.

Watched the highlights. Forfar’s goal was well offside. Same as the previous week against Clyde where there was an offside in the lead up to their goal. Fortunately no damage done, but could easily have been another two clean sheets.

East Fife and Dumbarton away from home Spartans win yesterday which I initially thought was a great result for us, was actually a bit of a blow. Spartans are now our closest challenger, and they have 2 games in hand - Peterhead and Dumbarton have a game in hand but they play one another. Unless Dumbo beat Peterhead they look miles off it. Peterhead have lost three on the bounce. So that Spartans win might actually have been a bad result for us. But I’d rather be 14 points ahead so mustn’t grumble!!

It’s rinse and repeat at the moment. We are not blowing any teams away but Buchanan and Jamieson are playing so well that one goal, or at most two, are all that are required. Nicky Jamieson today was just outstanding. Sure, Mutale gave him a tough time when he came on, but Nicky still managed to come out on top and found time to score the winning goal. Also, Buchanan is such an upgrade on his recent predecessors. Since Jamieson’s match winning save against East Fife I don’t think he has made a save. Next week will be tough. We don’t have a great record and I think our first half performance there earlier this season was the worst I’ve seen us this season. Still a long way to go…

Wonder if this means Ferrie is returning to Motherwell?

Clyde 2 Bonnyrigg Rose 0 Dumbarton 2 East Fife 0 Elgin City 1 Stranraer 1 Peterhead 2 The Spartans 1 Stenhousemuir 1 Forfar Athletic 0

Until Taylor’s moment of madness we were comfortable. Clyde I don’t think had had a single shot on target at that point. It then got a little nervy and in the end I was disappointed we didn’t get the clean sheet, but 9 wins on the spin is spectacular. That’s a quarter of the season and we have beaten every single team. None of the wins have been all that comprehensive but when we have such a strong back line, often one goal is enough. Today I thought Mikey Anderson was outstanding. His work to create the opening goal was brilliant. His consistency levels this season have been amazing. He is unstoppable at the moment, so Jacobs might need to bide his time. Matty Aitken had the best game I’ve seen from him. He took the first goal really well, and gave the Clyde backline a tough time. Defence was comfortable, but to be honest they had quite an easy time of it for most of the afternoon. Our lead extended. A good afternoon.

McLean has looked finished for a long time. Nothing changed my mind on Tuesday. I actually felt sorry for him when I saw him at Dumbarton last season, but having seem him inviting fans on to the pitch on Boxing Day for a square go, maybe he really is a bit of a dick after all. Expect him to rock up at Clyde in the New Year???

I think Ferrie will stay on for the rest of the season. Sweetie-Rowe I suspect will go back to Dundee and I am not sure Mackay will be retained, but could be wrong. We also have Kirkpatrick to come back into the squad at some point. So with that, cover at left full back and someone to challenge Aitken. The loan market lasts beyond January so I wouldn’t be surprised if we hang off in case we need cover for specific injuries.

Bonnyrigg Rose 1 The Spartans 1 Clyde 1 Stenhousemuir 1 Elgin City 1 Peterhead 3 Forfar Athletic 2 East Fife 1 Stranraer 1 Dumbarton 2

Do they include hospitality in the attendance figure?

We weren’t at our best yesterday but for the 2nd week in a row the conditions were atrocious. The defensive record is extraordinary. Not sure how we would cope if we were to lose one of the Jamiesons or Buchanan for any period of time. We did deserve to win that game and 2-0 was probably a fair reflection. I thought Elgin posed a threat, mainly in the first half, but the defence looks like an accident waiting to happen, which I guess is what happened at the penalty. I thought the subs did well. Berry is playing with a bit more confidence and his passing is a lot crisper now than it had been, but I actually thought Ferrie was very impressive for the 10 minutes or so he was on the park. Hopefully we can get him back in for the 2nd half of the season. On the face of it next week is our easiest fixture but I do have a worry that the winning run might come to an end. To win a full quarter of games would be some achievement. Fingers crossed.

East Fife 2 Bonnyrigg Rose 0 Dumbarton 3 Clyde 0 Peterhead 1 Forfar Athletic 1 Stenhousemuir 2 Elgin City 0 The Spartans 1 Stranraer 1

All hail Darren Jamieson. That save at the end was amazing. First half we were brilliant. Was it the best we’ve been this season? O’Reilly tormented the right back, Matty Yates was class, while Nicky Jamieson thought he was Franz Beckenbauer. The confidence was oozing throughout the team. I did wonder how we would cope playing with the wind at our backs, and my fears were confirmed. East Fife were a real threat in the 2nd half. I wasn’t expecting the offside flag at Austin’s goal - did we dodge a bullet? Despite Fife being on top we still came close to getting a 3rd, especially with O’Reilly’s shot off the post. You make your own luck, and we have certainly had it on our side on occasions, but to go on such a long winning streak is helluva impressive. Will be interesting to see what we do in the transfer window. Aside from Berry, most of those on the bench are either loanees, or in the case of McKay, on a contract to January. None of them have had a chance in the side so it is impossible to say if they are any good. What is happening with Kirkpatrick? Other teams will strengthen - hopefully we have the budget to do likewise.