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Cracking day out spent with some old friends. Smooth journey and a nice pint before the game. Despite the cack weather it was a well worthwhile trip. The first half was fairly forgetful though Billy and Marley both passed up guilt edged chances while Doran nearly hit a corker before half time, forcing a top save from MacDonald in the process. Hearts saw plenty of the ball but did very little with it. Had one strike just over from Oliver and McHattie was wasteful from a free kick. A combination of dire weather and refereeing left the game a bit rigid at half time. Much more urgency shown in the second half. Ross and Watkins were looking very dangerous on the ball while Tremarco and Shinnie were also making good runs down the flanks, worth noting that Foran and Draper were breaking down anything thrown at us through the middle. Billy has been a great player for us but today we saw his true class, lovely dummy and curling shot for the first and a cracking first time strike on his weaker foot for the 2nd. Would have had a hat trick was it not for the post saving MacDonald, it was a stunning volley and ball in from Watkins, his best game today by far. Great atmosphere and good numbers from up North and around the central belt. Must have more or less filled our allocation. Would like to note that the stewards were lovely folks today (no this isnt sarcasm). They were asking me about the game, crackin jokes and even wished me a merry christmas and safe trip on the way up - other clubs take note. This is a great start for Yogi as boss and long may it continue. January will be a busy month. Im sure we will get a host of offers for Billy but he is under contract and playing the football of his life, its vital we hold onto him. Yogi Hughes red n blue army

As has been said a deserved victory for us. The conditions were very poor and in the first half especially it made playing decent football difficult. We were playing into the wind in the first period and this meant that we were pushed back somewhat. Hearts probably had most of the possession but they didn't really threaten us and never really got into any threatening positions, although Graeme Shinnie was caught out a couple of times - the first time during his run as a right back that he's looked vulnerable defensively. We didn't really create any clear cut opportunities, the best attempts being a long range effort from Shinnie that was deflected wide for a corner and another effort from distance from Doran was saved very well by McDonald. In the second half we raised things and, with the wind in our backs, pressed Hearts back. I thought Marley Watkins had a great game, all our good attacks came through him. He can cut inside and attack through the channels or stick to his flank and advance that way, in either situation he uses the ball very well. Nick Ross also did well in the 'hole' and used possession very well again, great to see from him. Doran had a poor game though and has dipped a bit. He is capable from distance but in the last few matches hasn't taken the right option enough. The first goal was a beauty. Watkins slipped it through to McKay, who advanced into the box, then cut inside the defender and curled a shot into the far corner, a great finish. McKay nearly added another shortly afterwards when he volleyed a pull back against the foot of the post, a great effort considering the ball was just behind him. The second goal was another cracker, Watkins again set it up, attacking in the centre of the pitch, he fed the ball to McKay who cracked a shot left footed high into the net. We created a few other great chances in the second half, Warren should've hit the target when the ball was rolled into him from a corner and Watkins could easily have had a penalty when he was pulled to the ground just before the second goal. Overall, three points we deserved although it's pleasing to take them without too much bother. The conditions were terrible and it's the sort of game that could sometimes slip through a teams fingers. With regards to Hearts, they looked like what they are - a young side who are lacking in confidence and can't get a result. I didn't think they caused us any trouble and in the second half we walked over them without any trouble. I don't think they are doomed though - I think they'll have an upswing before the end of the season and a few of the teams above them look as though they could have a dip and be caught. The big thing that'll count against them is that Killie, County and Partick will all get a chance to strengthen in January whereas Hearts can't.

Agreed, we can't even get the KO time in a cup semi final moved with reasoned argument, but Celtic seem to be able to move a whole league fixture to another calendar date altogether. Disgusted.

I've just booked for the County game and it'll be my first time. Short version- can book any number of people as far as I'm aware. I think there is just one package but discount for season ticket holders. Bar prices in the Kingsmills aren't too bad but the package for the County game has a complimentary bar. Not a clue about the food, I hope it's decent given what I'm paying! To be honest you're better just calling the stadium and asking for Iain or Emma.

Chaps….what’s the latest on Jamie Vincent, I believe he was out ‘til Christmas, can we expect a return early in the NewYear? : In a recent interview on the club's official YouTube channel, Yogi confirmed that James Vincent had been told that he could step up his training and move closer to full fitness. I for one am looking forward to the return of James Vincent however it's going to give Yogi a selection headache because although I thought Vincent is better in the CAM role than Nick Ross, he has been playing well. If you take Nick out of there and put him back on the wing then have the headache of Nick Ross vs Marley Watkins and I personally want both players on the pitch I notice that David Raven has been sitting on the bench since his return from injury, is Tremarco playing that well, or was Raven playing poorly before his injury: I think the reason for Raven's absence from the squad is basically that Graeme Shinnie and Carl Tremarco have been very good defensively there's no reason to put Raven back in - as the saying goes "Why fix something that isn't broken" I have also been watching Raven play in the U20 squad and he is still playing his usual game but tends to get caught out at times but the main thing for Raven to do is to maintain his fitness as he could be drafted into the squad at anytime and I personally feel happy to have a good back up in David Raven. Marley Watkins… I thought Vincent was the ‘find of the season’, but he got injured too soon, however Watkins has come in, in a different role and looks like he is providing a constant threat, the BBC report from the Hearts match yesterday said ‘he supplied most of the forward momentum in their engine room.’ He certainly impressed me when I came up, and from comments on this site seems quite highly rated…could he be a potential POTY? : I attended the game and I thought that Marley Watkins was the stand out for the team. As mentioned above it's going to give Yogi a selection headache when James Vincent comes back into the team but I have been very impressed since Watkins has come into the team. Dean Brill has come in, and not given Esson a sniff of the goalkeeping jersey, in terms of goalies over the last few seasons how do you guys rate him?: I am going to go out on a limb here and say that Dean Brill so far is better than Antonio Reguero was last season. During pre season I was very dubious on Dean's performances but then friendlies are only games that focus on match fitness but Brill has been a very consistent goalkeeper since Reguero has left but what makes Brill stand out is that I feel he organises the defence better than Reguero did. With Brill in goals I feel like we are in safe hands. Regarding Ryan Esson, no offence intended but I would like to see him as a coach for the club and we develop Nick Draper and Cameron MacKay into the back up to Dean. Aaron Doran… I see his name mentioned a fair bit in match reports, for good strikes on goal, and he has weighed in with a couple recently, when I have watched him he kind of frustrates me, as I think he could be a really good player, is he having a good spell at the mo? : When I think of Aaron Doran, I don't really expect goals from him. The style of play that he has is that he creates the attacking moves and that is something he has done very well since Jonny Hayes left. I feel that Doran hasn't put a foot wrong in the last two seasons and he's done really well for the team. Of course it's nice when Doran scores goals but it's not the end of the world if he doesn't... (Unless he misses a game changing opportunity) Billy McKay….scored two yesterday and already has a decent tally for the season, does anyone think he might be a transfer target for someone come January (and not just Butcher), and would the board let him go if decent money were offered?: I have seen people saying that various clubs scouts (Including Celtic) attended the game yesterday to watch Billy. I think that it's inevitable that offers will be made for Billy but it's down to club at the end of the day and if the offer is best for the club then we trust the board. Hypothetically if Billy was to go then it would be Yogi's choice to get a replacement and that would be something I would watch with interest. Toby Adgestein, I am starting to think he might be a goner with his contract up next month and then we would be left with Curtis Allen - No thanks. I wonder if the Arsenal link is still there after Philip Roberts and maybe we might be able to get a replacement there if needed. Remember Yogi picked out a young Anthony Stokes from Arsenal youths for Falkirk and then look what happened!

Never mind the Summer!.................................... Renew all contracts and put up the sign NOT FOR SALE Europe here we come

No, but it is the worst of a bad bunch. I love the Scottish game now, no money, no transfer fees, just players playing for an honest day's pay. In England, most players by the 70th minute are thinking ably whether Krug or Cristal champagne will do in the VIP section of the nightclub after the game. For us, it's which car offers the best cover. I can't cheer for players like marlon king.

In the last 10 SPL seasons the following points were the minimum required to finish 6th after 33 games - 12/13 - 43 11/12 - 38 10/11 - 39 09/10 - 42 08/09 - 42 07/08 - 43 06/07 - 41 05/06 - 45 04/05 - 43 03/04 - 39 So we're on 32 now. Can we take 12 points from the 8 remaining games in Dec/Jan and secure another top 6 finish before January is over?

Great interview with JH on bbc alba the night. He got a parking ticket after his job interview because he was in for 2 hours when he only expected to be an hour ! :-D

Yeah, I am glad someone noted the difficult conditions.. First half showed our defence to be sound the midfield aware of shoreing up the defences and getting to the ball first, attack played well enough to warn off the hearts not to get too cocky. Second half, after softening up the Hearts our attack and midfield combined to completely outshine the opposition and our defence stood firm. you could tell after fifty odd minutes that we were going to get goals and win the match. Well taken goals they were and if conditions were better we would have scored a lot more. I watched as much of our Yogi as I could and his body language showed he too knew the goals were coming and didn't need rant and rave at the team to get them. All in all, highly satisfactory ................well done ICT..........