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I've long felt that we don't really go for the jugular under Hughes for reasons discussed at length elsewhere (slow build up, prefer to pass than shoot etc.) Using the BBC Sport information as a proxy here are the number of shots on target for each domestic game this season: Motherwell (L) - 0 Saint Johnstone (D) - 3 Partick (D) - 3 Celtic (L) - 5 Dundee (D) - 4 Hamilton (L) - 4 Hearts (W) - 5 Dundee United (D) - 3 Livi (W) - 6 Aberdeen (W) - 5 Ross County (W) - 4 Killie (L) - 2 Saint Johnstone (L) - 2 Ross County (L) - 4 Dundee (D) - 3 Motherwell (W) - 4 Partick (L) - 1 Celtic (L) - 2 Kilmarnock (W) - 3 Dundee United (D) - 4 Aberdeen (D) - 4 Hamilton (W) - 7 Ross County (W) - 4 Stirling (D) - 2 Average of 3.5 shots on target per game. Pretty much every match where we have had more than our (current) average shots on target per game we have won the match bar a couple of fixtures. Anything below that we have tended not to take anything from the game. Not exactly rocket science but if we don't shot, we don't score and don't win games. Really need to improve in the final third to create some more chances for the likes of Storey.

At the risk of sounding like the one-man James Vincent fan-club, did we not miss his energy and movement yesterday?! For all their strong points, a midfield of Drapes, Wedderburn, Polworth, Tansey, Vigurs just lacks energy for me. You can't have only one player (Storey) making runs - too easy to shut down.

I agree with that. I too like Vincent. After his winner against Falkirk I'm sure he will always have a place in many ICT fans' hearts. Yesterday was the first time I'd seen Wedderburn live. Not impressed, slow and cumbersome with his first touch usually going backwards. Mind you he was not alone. Stats show 60% possession yesterday and only 2 shots on target. I must have missed them, although there was one skirmish, from a corner I think, in the second half which I couldn't really make out. Anyway, it was all pretty appalling against a side 3 leagues below us. As others have said, we badly need some creativity, and improved ball crossing. Most of the crosses, bad as they were, came from the right. Williams seemed to disappear without trace on the left, after a promising start. The corner kick taking too was poor. At least two short corners totally wasted, and several others not causing any problem for the Stirling defence. Altogether, " a poor day at the office". Hope its better next time I show up.

Disappointing performance. I know that our default strategy is to sit deep and build from the back, but I thought that yesterday would be an opportunity, against part-time players from a league below, to press higher up the park and try to overwhelm them early in the game. For the first ten minutes it looked like we were going to do that, with Storey and Williams both looking particularly lively, and Stirling's left back looking vulnerable. However, we then reverted to the deep-lying, low-tempo approach and created next to nothing for the rest of the half. Stirling were quick and direct down the right hand side, and looked threatening on a couple of occasions, although their moves tended to fall apart when they got to the edge of our box. We had a few more chances and close shaves in the second half, but rarely forced the Stirling keeper into saves. Fisher doesn't seem to have much pace, although he may need time to get up to the pace of competitive games, but he did add a bit of presence up front, and it may be that, if they play together, Storey starts to play a more roaming role, dropping deeper to collect the ball and taking it out wide when required - he was doing that anyway yesterday, but there was rarely any support for him until Fisher arrived. I don't have too many fears for the replay, but we will need much more of a cutting edge and more ability to press teams if we are going to get anywhere near where we did last season. Players of the calibre and directness of Watkins and Shinnie were sorely missed yesterday.

Darran Thomson is manager at Edinburgh united.

How ironic...

An interesting decision for Stokes if it really is in his hands. My guess is that he wouldn't "lower himself" to play for a diddy team (Scottish Cup Champions), preferring instead to go to the bigger team - Hibs in the Championship. I see this as a win-win: If he comes here, he's coming to get game time and to stick it up Deila; if he doesn't he's as shallow as I think he is and Inverness is not for him. Let's see what he does....

Yes it was just a one match ban.

A bit of beardy music

Not really a big storey since we secured a player for the rest of the season that is miles better... Alex fisher

There will be plenty of critcism of ICT, and much of it will be deserved, but the first thing I want to say is to give credit to Stirling, who should be very pleased with their solid performance. They were very well organised, kept their shape resolutely and defended very well. Hitting on the break they had chances to snatch a win too.

About a year ago my mate got us a pair of tickets to see the Manic Street Preachers - as it turned out, it was on Cup final day and the celebrations meant I never actually made it to the gig. 12 months later, they've just announced another gig in Scotland, and would you believe it, it's on Cup final day again. So I'm getting another ticket and very much hoping not to be there!