Nigel Blackwell

Wouldn't be so sure - that logic doesn't seem to apply at the SPFL

Tonight's the night. Like most Stenhousemuir fans I will have to make do with twitter for score updates. Only a quarter of the season gone but already every game feels vitally important. I think we are only missing Ross Taylor tonight and have three new signings to introduce to the squad.

Jardine was a cracking player at Stirling. Looked like he could play at a higher level. Sounds like it is a gamble worth taking if he can get back to the player he was before his injury. But it does sound as if he isn't there yet.

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

Yes. Does anyone actually know why the SPFL didn’t reschedule for this Saturday? It is maddening that those in charge not only didn’t think it was a good idea, but as far I can tell, they haven’t explained why playing it on a Tuesday night is a better idea.

But why would the SPFL decline it? I've no beef with Elgin not wanting to play on Saturday but surely the SPFL are supposed to be impartial in this and a Saturday afternoon game must be the better option.

Going by the statement when we signed the lad from Motherwell I suspect it’s the former, which is what I feared

There is one player I don’t recognise in the team photo with Gregor Buchanan and his player of the month trophy. Anyone know who it is?

Bonnyrigg 1 East Fife. 0 Clyde 1 Dumbarton 1 Elgin. 0 Stenhousemuir. 2 Forfar. 1 Peterhead. 1. Stranraer. 1. Spartans. 1

At 2-0 you just couldn’t see how Clyde were going to get back into it, but in the end they could have sneaked a win. Did our team, and management, think the points were won? After going 2 up we didn’t create anything else. We just stopped playing. I thought we were excellent the first 60 minutes or so, then Clyde replaced their ropey right back with the left back who made quite a difference. Not too sure how Lynch lasted 90 minutes as he was struggling. Maybe Bilham wasn’t 100% fit. I think the squad depth will kill us this season. I’d like to know why we find ourselves in this position. Is it just because Naysmith couldn’t identify two more players to add to the squad?

I think the window for loan signings closes at the end of the month - Saturday evening? As things stand, we will have two fit outfield subs on Saturday. Tonight is training night so hoping we get some news. I do expect there to be signings, but I am a little worried that we won't end up making the panic signings that Naysmith said he didn't want to make. We always knew the squad was far too small and that he had to make a couple of signings, at least, I just find it quite odd that we find ourselves in this position.

Dumbarton 2 -0 Stranraer East Fife 1-1 Forfar Peterhead 2-0 Elgin Stenhousemuir 1-0 Clyde The Spartans 1-2 Bonnyrigg

Thought it was odd that Naysmith mentioned the corner decision. Stood six feet away behind the goal, there was no doubt it came off the Bonnyrigg defenders head. The Bonnyrigg assistant manager took to Twitter late on Saturday night to have a go at the referee and in particular the “corner kick” decision. I couldn’t find any tweets mentioning the inadequacies of his own team, and his strike force in particular.

Was a typical game of puntball at Bonnyrigg, but a cracking header from Edin Lynch was the difference. Despite the tight score line It was a relatively anxious free afternoon. The keeper and back line dealt with everything that was thrown at them. It was no nonsense defending. Michael Anderson was outstanding this afternoon. As usual, the squad depth is the only negative. Taylor went down clutching his shoulder. It didn’t look good. We can’t really continue with such a small squad. As for Bonnyrigg it is apparent why they have such a large squad. They will need it for all the suspensions that will follow. Stranraer couldn’t handle Ross Taylor last week, but Bonnyrigg knew how to do it.

Bonnyrigg 1- 1 Stenhousemuir Clyde 1-1 Elgin Dumbarton 1-2 Peterhead Stranraer 2-1 Forfar Spartans 0-1 East Fife

Not much to add to that. Adam Brown is a cracking footballer, and when he plays with confidence like he did today, he is a player too good for league 2. He has started the season really well. Matty Aitken was excellent. He doesn’t carry much of a goal threat but when he is creating as many chances as he did today, then I don’t think it matters. Jamieson in goals had little to do, but he did have one amazing save in the 2nd half. What a difference a confident, composed keeper makes. And for once, I was able to enjoy, rather than endure, a Tam Orr performance. The lack of numbers in the squad was apparent with only three outfield subs, and we do need a couple of decent players in to augment the squad, but we can worry about that tomorrow. Today was fantastic.

You don’t think Scottish League 2 is an “obscure niche event”?

Football is back this weekend. Any word on new signings? Any rumours? Anything?

I discovered recently how to block certain posters. I can recommend it to pretty much everyone who has posted on this topic.

East Fife 2-0 Clyde Elgin 0-2 Dumbarton Forfar 1-0 Spartans Peterhead 2-0 Bonnyrigg Stenhousemuir 2-0 Stranraer

The Stranraer player did dive. Quite clearly. The Peterhead decision is one of the worst I have ever seen.

What the feck is going on with the Peterhead “penalty”???? Defender wrestles the striker to the ground and the striker is booked for diving. I can’t even imagine what it is that the referee has seen (or not seen) to come up with that decision.

First half I thought we were miles off it. There just seemed to be a real lack of urgency about us. Luckily for all their possession Spartans never really tested Jamieson in that first half. It was quite forgettable. As was the 2nd half, apart from the obvious. Was Jamieson’s first yellow card justified? The second two minutes later was as clear as day. As Neilly says we looked more of a threat with 10 men and the team seemed to get some sort of lift after the red card. To my untrained eye the effort levels seemed to go up a notch when we were a man down. In the end, it was a fantastic 3 points. We often seem to be on the receiving end of late goals, so it was a great feeling to get such a late winner in those circumstances. While Spartans didn’t look like scoring even when up against 10 men they looked competent enough. Some tidy ball players across the middle, but maybe less of a threat up front. Having said that…I am really hoping we get this new striker in sooner rather than later. Punting high balls to Aitken isn’t going to cut it, so either we get someone in or we work out how best to use him. The two Spartans centre halves won every header, with maybe one exception, without having to actually jump for the ball.

Bonnyrigg 1-0 Elgin Clyde 1-1 Forfar Dumbarton 2-0 East Fife Stranraer 1-1 Peterhead Spartans 1-1 Stenhousemuir

Not sure he "clearly" onside. It is tight though.