RiG

Anyway, yesterday continued a somewhat interesting trend for ICT in the league this season so far - the importance of the first goal. When we score the first goal we have won more than 70% of our games. When we lose the first goal we have gone on to lose every single one of those matches. Yesterday we bagged the opener and got the win.

That's a pretty bizarre argument to say the least. This is an ICT website and as such there is going to be speculation about our club and players of pretty much anything really. What players earn, where they might be heading off to in the future, what they eat after a game and so on.

When Coll Donaldson first came to the club he was (allegedly) getting paid £250/week and was told that he should show that he was worth more to encourage him to win a deal. Most of the guys we are getting in noware on (a few) hundred(s) rather than the very low thousands a good few were on in the Premiership.

We got Coll Donaldson to commit to a 2 and a half year deal. No reason why someone like Bell couldn't do similar.

Someone not highlighted from yesterday yet who I think deserves a mention is Connor Bell who yet again put in a tremendous shift across the front line yesterday. Doran and Bell seem to be permitted to switch sides seemingly at random and float all across the forward line supporting Oakley and when you see our third goal it all stems from some incredibly tenacious hold up play from Bell who works hard to get the ball, retain possession before he plays in Polworth to set up Doran. People slag off Baird so much because of his finishing, justified to an extent, but the work rate from Baird and Bell has been so important to the team as we defend from the front. With Doran still working his way up to full fitness again and Baird out of the side at present it's great to see Bell not shirk the additional work he may have to do. Really hope a contract extension is in the minds of the ICT higher ups for the kid. One minor concern from yesterday was that Gary Warren on three separate occasions was caught on the ball when trying to dribble out of defence and on each occasion Queens had an excellent chance to score a goal with Dobbie missing two sitters. Maybe have a word with him and leave the ball playing defender role to Donaldson!

Did he not do something similar earlier this season to the surprise of everyone there?

I've just never rated the guy (I'm sure he's gutted about that). Don't remember him doing much at Killie though he did help us out in one game against them with this slack back pass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD6f_Fuwzec&feature=youtu.be&t=23

I'd suggest you take your concerns to the club. Give them a call or an email to highlight the problems you are having. Whilst the point will be debated on here you are unlikely to get an answer.

People sit in the Main Stand because they don't like to make a noise so it's probably expected their jimmies are rustled by some guy from Livingston actually supporting their team by vocally encouraging them.

Great strike from Mulraney for his goal. Smashing stuff.

Any chance of some links to these people stating we would win the league?

The referee was John Beaton. That should tell you a lot.

Smashing result. Can't wait to pump Dundee Untied 24 - 1 now.

Totally bummed out that I am missing this. Cracking scoreline so far and fingers crossed it gets even better second half.

Not raging I'm missing this game at all, no sir.

Game on!

I hope not he was absolutely rotten for Falkirk against us earlier this season. I know that's just one game but he's prone to brain farts and making crucial mistakes. We'd be as well re-signing Devine.

Pitch inspection tomorrow apparently:

Quite possibly a virus. He might have been checked over after the Livi game and showed signs of concussion then. I'm sure the (local) papers will have some info on it early next week.

He had a head knock against Livi so I wonder if it is related to that? Maybe something to do with concussion?

I agree with you. He makes mistakes and they can be some realy frustrating errors but the amount of hate he gets from the stands is absolutely ridiculous.

Another frustrating performance from ICT today. The same issues that have been evident on so many occasions this season were yet again on show today. A clear lack of clinical edge, poor play in the final third, lack of width, slow in closing down the opposition and defensive errors leading to a goal. We really do know how to make it hard for ourselves. St. Mirren were quickly out of the traps and whilst we were able to knock the ball around a bit at the back their forward line worked so hard to close us down we often ended up battering the ball in the vague direction of Austin / Oakley or seeing our shorter passes being pounced on by the Buddies players harassing our every move. A slack ball out of defence by Warren was seized up on by Saints and a couple of quick passes later Reilly burst into the box, delaying his shot leading to Tremarco going flying past him with his attempt at a heroic last ditch tackle, before rifling the ball into the roof of the net. Saints continued to look a threat for most of the first half and they easily cut open our defence with some clever balls in between full back and centre back which left us woefully exposed at times. Our attempts on goal were largely restricted to long range efforts which didn't really trouble Samson. Doran (I think) had a decent chance when he sent a half volley wide of goal. Disappointing to be behind at half time but Saint Mirren thoroughly merited it and they were unlucky not to be further ahead when Stelios cut in from the right flank and sent a cross / shot in which bounced off the bar with Ridgers looking beaten. Second half was a real improvement from us. When we got the ball down on the floor and passed it around utilising the wide areas (especially when Mulraney came on and Chalmers pushed further out on the left) we started to create some excellent chances. Unfortunately, as seen so often this season, we wasted every single one of them thanks to some limp finishing, some good saves and a bit of luck for the Buddies. Oakley missed perhaps the best chance of the game for us when he somehow failed to turn in a neat cut back from Trafford (again I think) who had raced along the goal line and picked him out just outside the six yard box. His tame effort went straight to Samson. Oakley also wasted a good header towards the end of the game. Bell saw his fierce shot blocked by Samson at close range, Doran curled a shot wide of the post from just outside the area, Mckay headed straight at Samson from a corner and Polworth saw his effort scrambled off the line by Samson. Saints also had some opportunities to extend their lead in the second half but were often snuffed out by some desperate last ditch defending from the likes of Warren and we looked to get a break from Collum when Ridgers failed to collect a crossed ball dropping it at the feet of a Buddies player who tapped it into the net but somehow we were given a free kick for a "foul" on Ridgers. A very lucky break for us there. Definitely disappointing to come away empty handed given the chances that we passed up but if you don't take these chances and continue to waste them then we can't complain much. Polworth had a good game for us today although he was at times wasteful with the ball when attacking he covered so much of the pitch both defending and supporting the attack he gets massive respect for his effort. Doran also had a decent game as well despite being subbed. He swanned past opposition players like they weren't there at times. I think he'd be really useful as a number ten playing behind the striker (as many others have said before). Warren had some heroic blocks but was also culpable for some pretty dodgy passes out of defence which put us under pressure. Most players did fine but nothing amazing. Man of the day Raven spent a fair chunk of the game being roasted by Morgan and was lucky not to be booked on a few occasions after hauling him down. Despite this he also chipped in with some great challenges and blocks at the back and was an excellent support down the right flank when we were attacking. With Falkirk on Tuesday we need to seriously sharpen up on our finishing. Missing four or five guilt edged chances a game simply cannot go on.

Didn't look like it was over at the game TBF. What was more bizarre was Samson punching the ball out of play in the resultant melee and Collum giving a goal kick.

Yeah but attitude problem and all that.

Robertson is definitely right in that there have been some shocking officiating displays in games involving us especially in recent weeks but it's time we start taking some responsibility for our actions. All of the recent red cards have been justified and we should look at ourselves before lashing out and blaming the referees. All the other sides are having to put up with their shite as well.