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We did have a few games towards end of last season where Mckay seemed to be under instruction to stay pushed forward....but think that was as much a part of the transition as anything else and done to try and encourage the midfield and wider players to do the pushing instead. When trying to explain myself to people (as to why I've remained so positive) I use the analogy of a metal worker who, when bending cold steel, has to push it beyond the final position because when you release the tension it will naturally spring back a bit. Yogi has been doing that with the team....pushing them to over-play the "tippy tappy" football throughout pre-season knowing that when it came crunch time and he removed the shackles the team would naturally spring back and naturally re-introduce more of what we already know they're good at to the overall mix of play......and that includes Mckay getting here, there and everywhere. Like the metal, it'll need some final fettling and it'll pick up a few dents and dings along the way which will need worked out.....but early indications are that Yogi has successfully re-crafted the team. Only time will tell whether or not they're worthy of some silver plating....I'm confident they are.

I started listening the coverage wanting Malpas to be a bit of a tw@t so I could continue to dislike him for deserting us ...... but actually he came across well and was obviously knowledgeable about the players. Didn't seem biased one way or the other but if he was it was probably slightly more pro-ICT than Motherwell. He also spoke in fairly warm terms about our players, especially the younger lads now breaking through.

Sounds like a great performance all round...Does Doran score anything but screamers.....however we have Celtic next week, which will be a test, I think containment may be the best policy for 75mins before trying to nick the game

Didn't see any change in overall tact....the players are just benefiting from competitive game time, growing confidence with what's being asked of them and learning when to mix it up a bit.

Your right i thought the Rose would win that one, but i was right the previous round when i said they'd beat Nairn.... :P Absolutely love the early rounds of the Scottish Cup. Hoping the non league sides represent themselves well this year.

We did have a few games towards end of last season where Mckay seemed to be under instruction to stay pushed forward....but think that was as much a part of the transition as anything else and done to try and encourage the midfield and wider players to do the pushing instead. When trying to explain myself to people (as to why I've remained so positive) I use the analogy of a metal worker who, when bending cold steel, has to push it beyond the final position because when you release the tension it will naturally spring back a bit. Yogi has been doing that with the team....pushing them to over-play the "tippy tappy" football throughout pre-season knowing that when it came crunch time and he removed the shackles the team would naturally spring back and naturally re-introduce more of what we already know they're good at to the overall mix of play......and that includes Mckay getting here, there and everywhere. Like the metal, it'll need some final fettling and it'll pick up a few dents and dings along the way which will need worked out.....but early indications are that Yogi has successfully re-crafted the team. Only time will tell whether or not they're worthy of some silver plating....I'm confident they are. I thought Motherwell were the Steelmen ? I guess that makes us the Plasma Cutters

Spot on Scotty, my initial reaction when I heard Malpas was co-host was the same as yours but he really surprised me in his summarising and yes impartial to a sight bias (which could have been put down to the ICT on going performance) but clear open and non interruptive which gave their commentary a feeling of your being there witnessing what was going on. He showed great respect for all players with just the odd comment about what/ what not, could have been done unlike the Sportsound 'knowalls' who generally give a full critique on how to play football throughout the commentary leaving you frustrated about what is happening on the pitch MFR Auldyboy certainly my choice to listen to for all away games from now on.

Best result doesn't mean biggest winning margin though! Personally I think our best result there was 1-0 in the cup when we were in division 1, with Barry Wilson's magnificant 60 yarder.

I love you anoraks - thanks for the response Don - I would agree that if you get it right it should work anywhere. I have always backed Yogi and appreciate that it all takes time and the players are clearly behind him. I was getting frustrated that he did not appear to be tinkering with the system but he clearly is. One last comment about Billy. I think that he is at his best and the best for the team when he is here, there and everywhere, dragging central defenders out of position. He did appear to be stuck in a very limited, traditional centre forward role. Was that the case yesterday. .

Fair comment. But interested to hear the "played with width" - "movement on and off the ball " - "pressing the ball when opposition have it " - and the only negative would appear to be getting support for wee Billy. I was concerned about not using the flanks - I was concerned about the midfielders moving more backwards and sideways and wee Billy being too static. I presume that has been worked on. On that note will The Christie role also be tinkered with ? That means that Yogi has noted the flaws and has tinkered with the system. Bodes well for the future. Let's face it - any result (even a back to the wall draw) against Cellic will be an accomplishment . I think Yogi's biggest strength is his willingness and ability to identify what's working and what's not....and to then take that to the training ground with a view to rectifying it. Part of the problem in trying to get Mckay on to the ball more (IMO) is that the opposition know what he's capable of and set up to neutralise him. That's frustrating for Mckay, but it does open up opportunity elsewhere. It's something the manager is working on changing, but I think time itself and the performances from others will play as much a part in that as anything. Other teams will come to realise that there's goal scoring threat throughout and that they perhaps can't afford to tie up a man marking Mckay. I don't buy into the home/away setup thing....never have. Why do half of the opposition managers job for him by having a pre-determined way of approaching the game based on location instead of ability and opposition? Just doesn't make any sense to me.

You seem obsessed. Is there any need to inject such negativity into what up until then had been an entirely positive thread ? These suggestions that there are fans anxious for the team to fail have become beyond tedious.

A few more results and performances like that and those of us with doubts about JH will happily queue up for extra slices of humble pie.

I was ill yesterday and unable to go to Motherwell (it has to be bad for me to miss any ICT game) and really enjoyed the commentary on MFR2. Both Auldy and Mo did a great job. Made me feel much better! even though sad to have missed a great game, and great win.

Auldyboy and Maurice excellent combination beats anything the beeb can come up with imho would like to hear more of them as a unit in the future.

What a wonderful change, nothing negative said; So pleased for the team, manager and the real support, surely we will now see attendances increase at all our games both home and away they certainly deserve it after such acclaim. John Hughes must be over the moon seeing his dreams starting to become reality. The feel good factor must be phenomenal in the ICT camp right now ! It is a big ask but if we can maintain this level of play and still keep improving on it there is no knowing what the resulting outcome will be in terms of building the Club's profile, wealth and stature.

I can't think of many better performances I've ever seen.....by any team! The only complaint is that the scoreline of 2-0 tells you very little. We absolutely battered Motherwell!

Only 36 games in the league to go and County are probably now working on which 6 players to get rid of in January....

Easily the best performance I've seen under Hughes (I wasn't at the 3-0 RC game). Tansey's goal was eerily similar to his goal in the semi and Doran's was the icing on the cake of an excellent performance. Top marks go to Watkins, Shinnie and Meekings. Best day.

Well, that was a pleasant surprise! At this rate there might be hundreds of us lining up at the 'humble pie' table later this season. Sounds like we created plenty of chances today. That was one of my worries with our new style of play, but maybe it was unfounded. Looking forward to seeing the goals on the highlights, they sounded like crackers Getting Tansey back was one of our best bits of business imo. I'm just off to have another look at the league table, it looks so pretty!

Couldn't have complained had it been 4-0. Well played

Fantastic result, congrats to Yogi and the team for this one. The ball retention seems to work better away from home. Onwards and upwards. Oh, wait, we can't go any higher.

If we took in Michael N'goo I would want Hughes sacked immediately! Imagine supporting a club where your 3 strikers are Michael N'goo, josh magennis and lee miller. I think instead of wasting our money on a panic buy we should offer better contracts to billy McKay and Graeme shinnie, there are players in our side who are more than capable of doing a job up front, for example Marley Watkins! I'd rather him up front instead of the garbage strikers that are being suggested on this, and why not give Calum ferguson a go, how else do you get experience? He scored the most out of all the players in pre season, and then some people on this are saying he is too similar to billy McKay and actually portraying it as a bad thing! You are nuts if you are saying you wouldn't take two billy mckay's!

thought auldy did a great job made me wish i had went to the game bring on dunee

I heard Yogi had a sausage roll at lunch the other day. Surely the f*ck*r now owes Morrissey an apology. Does anyone know what colour shoes he'll be wearing on Saturday? I'd like to have a moan about this too. It's only right. We, the fans, deserve better.