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Not really a fair comparison is it? Comparing a once in a lifetime event to a run of the mill league game, so it's hard to see what point you're making. My local side Bonnyrigg Rose (average home crowd 200) got 1500 v Dumbarton recently. This week they play Kirkintilloch Rob Roy in the last 8 of the Scottish Junior Cup. There'll probably be a couple of thousand there. The problems facing Scottish football are no different from the problems facing other small nations in light of the corporate greed and globalisation of the sport encouraged by satellite tv. The attendances per capita have been discussed on here before, but stand up well against similar small nations. I was at 3 games in Portugal recently and their attendances are shocking compared to ours, and they have 11M people. BTW I've seen South Shields this season - favourites for the other final place in the Vase.

The stark truth is that, so far this season, the Highlands have been theirs. However, Saturday represents an opportunity to put things right. Win and we reduce the gap to a single point with the momentum with us. Lose and County are a massive 7 points ahead of us and a four horse race to steer clear of the relegation places could well become a straight battle between us and Hamilton for who is relegated automatically and who lives to fight again by way of the play off. Possibly the most important Highland derby in our history. If ever the club needed a twelfth man in the form of packed and noisily supportive Main and North Stands it is on Saturday.

With you on this one, IHE...except maybe Warren. It's a tough one - he's certainly had a poor season, but there is no doubting his desire - witness far post header for a point on Saturday! Whose more likely to get a handle on Boyce? He's not massively pacey, so it's about positioning. Not sure....good luck with that one RF! What we must have is pace and width - that means 2 from Mulraney, King and Cole. Polworth in the hole for me.

I have no issue whatsoever with officials taking a moment to consider a situation before making a decision on it.....if it means we get more right decisions.

The thing that struck me from watching the game was the physicality of the Thistle side. Osman was very lucky to remain on the park following his assaults on Hayes. I don't think they have a great deal of pace at the back and therefore if they press too much they will be vulnerable to our pace on the break. They are also a pretty hard working side and don't allow players too much time on the ball. There is no reason why we can't get 3 points out of this but we need to be disciplined at the back and play well across the team. 1st goal will be crucial. On the subject of physicallity, how on earth did Garner not get sent off for his wild kick on Imrie yesterday? He then went on to score 2 more goals. Of course, Foderingham should also have gone for an early bath in the first half after handling out of his area. It is really quite alarming how inept some of the officials in Scottish football are. The need for a video referee for bigger games has never been more obvious. Excellent semi-final draw. It will see the Shinnie brothers in opposition as well as ensuring we don't have an ugly sisters' final.