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After tonight we are looking good to win the group but we could do with another three points against Cove on Saturday. Providing we get through to the last 16 the club will get £50,000 and if we can progress from there a loosing quarter-finalist will get £80'000 which is a lot of money for our club which we have not had in recent years. Any cup run is welcome as it is more games for our players and more money for the club.

The club’s report along with the goals and interviews is now on line. Harper’s free kick is definitely worth seeing again, whilst Duffy’s run and Harper’s pick out of him for the third must be a move off the training ground. And what was Harper doing that far up the pitch when Duffy’s long ball found him for the fourth? Good goals and hopefully a lot more to come this season! https://ictfc.com/match-report-ictfc-4-0-albion-rovers-19-07-2022 And my apologies to Cammy MacKay: rather than the 6 I said last night, there were 7 Academy Graduates involved in the match: MacKay, Harper, MacGregor and Mackay started, with Hyde, Cairns (for his debut) and Nicolson coming off the bench.

A good game and performance from all the team including the young guys who came on as subs. From the start Cameron Harper got the ball on the left a great pass to Dan MacKay who crossed for Billy Mckay to score. The second goal was a brilliant left foot free kick into the top left corner from Cameron Harper. Our third goal was from a corner from Cameron Harper into the center of the box and a volly from Wallace Duffy. Harpers second was a header from a good assist from Duffy. Shaw and Hyde looked good when they came on as well as the other subs. Albion had a late chance for a consultation when David Carson let slip giving the ball away but it came to nothing but Billy Dodds let his feelings known from the edge of the dug out! My MOM was Cameron Harper followed by Wallace Duffy and Billy Mckay who looks a lot sharper than this time last season.

A great start with Mckay’s early goal, but Albion were competitive in the first half and we needed Harper’s excellent free kick to make things comfortable at half time. The two early goals made the second half very routine (Duffy’s came from an excellent set piece and his run into space was brilliantly picked out by Harper),and we must have had 80% of possession in the second half. We looked like we wanted more but the changes broke the game up a bit, and we were lucky when Albion hit the woodwork twice in one rare foray forward. A job well done on what turned into a very wet night. Harper was the pick for me whilst of the new players, Delaney looked comfortable and Shaw looked a tricky player. Cairns and Nicolson will have enjoyed their game time too, and brought the number of Academy Graduates used in the game to six. Next up Cove and a chance to get full points in the group. Our goal difference got a boost too, so the group is there for the taking.

I agree in part. When we were 1-0 up, Albion tested us and created a few chances, with MacKay making a few saves. Had they scored, it would have been interesting to see how we would have responded. The second goal came at the right time and made it a comfortable evening, particularly when we got the two early goals in the second half. We kept possession relentlessly in the second half, trying to engineer an opening, which was good to see. I still think we need a natural right back. Carson is a big player for us, but on occasions it is clear he is playing out of position and the Albion sub who came on and played on the left wing had the beating of him in the latter stages last night. I’m optimistic for the season ahead, but think the Championship is very open this season. A good start is essential, and avoiding anything like “Gardyne-gate” and a bad slump at any time is key. There is still a risk that teams come in for some of our assets, Deas being a prime example, although I think we have planned for that risk by bringing Delaney in. Anyway, I can’t wait for the first league game.

Some may say it was 'only" Albion Rovers but that was almost faultless and building on our previous games therr is increasingly much to optimistic about.

The game definitely had an early season feel to it and the scoreline flattered us somewhat. After a bright start and a good early goal it looked as though some players thought it would be easy. We were slack on and off the ball and as a result Rovers had a lot of possession and some decent chances in the first half. Better teams would have punished us for that slackness and we could have found ourselves behind at half time. As it was, we went in the break comfortable at 2-0 courtesy of a great Harper free kick following excellent work on the right by Samuels. If that didn't knock the stuffing out of Rovers, the 3rd goal just after the break surely did. A 4th followed soon after together with a number of substitutions. Plus points are the 4 well taken goals, Allardice looking sharp and commanding, Doran involved in some quality link up play and the involvement of so many Academy graduates. The negative points are the slackness at the back and a couple of players who looked like they didn't really want to be there. It is early days yet but there is no real sign that any of the new signings will be regular first team picks. It would be good to see a couple of the new signings start against Cove on Saturday to get a bit more of an idea of what they can bring to the team.

Billy McKay my pick for tonight. Just too strong for Albion really. Could have scored a few more. We appear to be shaping up okay. Let's see how we go against stronger teams. Early signs are positive. Didn't think I would have got wet and cold though

I hate this season. Our best squad for years. Youth hopes and senior quality. Covid gone. But I feel totally disconnected from the team . I can't believe how much more I felt involved with the live streams and away matches. I get to 5 to 10 home games a season but other commitments keep me away. The streams made the season ticket worthwhile. No coverage tonight no radio. Is this the first season I give it up? I can't even watch on a recording.

Obviously not United in their decision.

Yes it's all about protecting the big clubs by keeping them apart at the early stages which is not fair on the smaller clubs, should be a simple draw and if it is Celtic v Rangers that's a bonus for the other clubs.

I can't remember the last time I was enthusiastic about the group stages of this tournament but I am increasingly so this season.

The seeded teams for the last 16 are the five clubs in Europe plus the three group winners with the best records. The other five group winners plus the three runners up with the best records are unseeded.

Just found it. Sumptuous ball with the outside of the foot.....just as I remember it. My outstanding .memory from the Pittodrie cuckooing . Then there was the Lennon Juanjo? Sending off

Due to family commitments, I couldn't make the semi final but did make the replay at Pittodrie and, when Paul Ritchie gave us an early lead, was, for about 20 minutes, convinced that we were on our way to our first ever major final. Bit of a trudge back to the car that evening.

And in 2004 we won the League and the Challenge Cup and took the Pars to a replay in the Semi of the Scottish.