ALSY

Yep, coming up for this one: meeting up with my sheepy big brother.

I'll give you some praise, mate. I didn't agree with your post on Wednesday, but you took a serious kicking for it and it says a lot for you that you've come back and shown how much you support the team.

Maybe not Morrison, but certainly McBain has more experience there. I assumed Butcher would put put McBain on too, but Ross had a tremendous game in the middle. Didn't win every tackle he went in for, but most of those that he did win, he came out with the ball at his feet and moved the play on really effectively. Great win today after recent results. There wasn't thst much in it, but we had a little more flair going forward and Munro had a very strong game at the back. Fantastic to see Odhiambo with so much confidence - not seen it yet on the highlights yet, obviously, but his touch and finish for the second goal looked sublime. Excellent away support again. Terry and Mo...

^ This. Does anyone know anything about McCann's fitness? Proctor terrifies me at the moment - he's had two horrible games in a row - but I can't think who else who could play right back with the injuries we have now.

I'll be there. Don't know what to expect from our team at the moment and don't know much about this new St Mirren side. Should be interesting.

You're right, but in a knock-out cup the margin of defeat is irrelevant at the end of the day. Feel sorry for you and all those who went to the game though. True enough, but I was thinking about it more in terms of the potential effect on the players' confidence. Hopefully the hurt will make them more determined to do well against St Mirren. At least I wasn't having to travel back up the A9 tonight. Still got kind of soggy on the walk back, mind.

That was truly awful. 6-0 flattered us. The reasoning that St Mirren on Saturday is the priority is completely understandable, but a defeat that heavy could have a really adverse effect on confidence. Sutherland up front on his own looked completely out of his depth - beaten for strength and speed and not capable of holding the ball up. Surely it would have made sense to start Foran? We'd still have lost, but probably not as heavily: he would have retained possession better, created a little more and gained valuable game time ahead of Saturday. Probably won't get the match report up until Friday morning, but I don't imagine it's one many people will want to read in any case. Not looking forward to going into work with 1500 Celtic supporters tomorrow...

Defeat against Hearts isn't the end of the world, and 3-1 did flatter them, but the performance of the defence is going to give St Mirren confidence for next week and although there were some nice moves going forward, it was all a bit erratic - we never really looked like controlling things. Maybe Foran returning will help us keep up a bit of momentum going forward, but I hope Gillet isn't going to be out for too long because any quick direct player is going to trouble the full backs that started for us today.

I'd far prefer to see Tokely at right back too, but to be fair to Proctor, I think any of our full backs would have struggled against Templeton today. If the injury to Innes is bad, though, then I guess Tokely will be back in the centre against Celtic.

Lucky boy Innes there. Looked a clear penalty to me. Great block from Barr there, unfortunately. We're looking OK going forward but I could easily see us conceding another today.

Not very confident about our defence today. Both Tokely and Proctor are struggling a bit at full back, and after Munro got pulled out of position there, Tokely couldn't get near Stevenson. Need a wee bit of magic from Hayes, Rooney or Eric - or a cameo from Foran?

Hayes limping. This would NOT be good news. Decent start to the half by both sides.

@rse. Excellent ball in, unfortunately. Home debut own goal for Innes.

Lovely goal! Think we deserve that, just about. Hearts will really have to attack us now, which hopefully should suit Eric and Hayes.

Good to see Foran on the bench. Obviously Sanchez didn't make it though. Shame; would have liked to see him play a part today after his performance last week. Nice wee piece about Terry & life in Inverness on ESPN about 10 minutes ago.

Top Six has got my ticket. I'm meeting some of the Edinburgh contingent somewhere near Queen St about ten to seven - time for a quick beer then a taxi, hopefully. Could maybe meet you and Red Card too unless you're planning on drinking nearer Celtic Park? Meeting at 1530 at the Horseshoe for a warm up beer. Normally head over to the London Road Tavern pre match to mingle with the locals. Is normally good craic. Half three is probably a bit early for me on a school night, but if I decide to come straight from work I might see you in there.

Top Six has got my ticket. I'm meeting some of the Edinburgh contingent somewhere near Queen St about ten to seven - time for a quick beer then a taxi, hopefully. Could maybe meet you and Red Card too unless you're planning on drinking nearer Celtic Park?

What manforthejobandyngwieandwandererandmantis said, pretty much. The midfield was a worry for most of the game: both Duff and Cox played so deep that there were huge gaps where Hibs were just able to stroll onto the ball. At least one of our central midfielders should have been trying to take the ball onward more when we were in possession, and both should have been trying to close down further up the park more when we weren't in possession. Eric, when he was on the ball, showed he is absolutely capable of performing at this level, but I don't think he showed for it quite enough (to be fair to Eric, this was a problem with the whole team, especially from throw-ins, as it has been all season). Rooney and Hayes worked really hard, but too often they looked really isolated. Don't want to be too negative - in the last half hour we definitely earned our point, and there is enough talent in the squad to do decently this season if the midfielders can refine their roles a little more clearly. Also, Sanchez looked like he felt he belonged at this level and was keen to take players on when he got the chance; personally I'm delighted by that, as I think he's maybe the best footballer we have, and I want to see him properly involved with the first team this season. At the same time though, I think this was a pretty poor Hibs team, and a better side might have wrapped it up earlier. If we're going to get ahead of the other relegstion candidates this season, the team needs to know exactly what it's doing from the off.

I'll say Eric. Solo effort picking the ball up in midfield, feinting to pass to Rooney then taking it on himself instead and pinging it into the top corner. Tomorrow.

There speaks a man who does not take defeat to Hamilton lightly! How many changes is that? Away from home, I'd be inclined to give the bulk of the team from two weeks ago* another chance: with any luck Hibs will come out at us and Eric, Hayes and Rooney can try to pick them off on the counter - assuming we don't lose another goal in 41 seconds... Would like to see Sanchez get some game time from the bench if it's not working though - his passing could make a difference. *Edited to add - in fact, I'd agree completely with RiG's team.

I agree with most of this but I think you're a little harsh on Cox tbh. He started last season very well, faded a little in the middle then came on to a great game towards the end of the season, and he's only played three games in the SPL. Added to that, he's only around 20, so can be expected to improve and impose himself more on games with more experience at this level. Re. Duff, I don't think he will add a great deal in terms of flair, but his experience and versatility must be a good thing when we're a little short on depth, and one thing even Utd and Aberdeen supporters who don't rate him agree on is that he is absolutely committed on the pitch.

Team announced as: McGregor Hutton Weir McManus Whittaker Robson McCulloch Fletcher Brown Naismith Miller Not actually sure how that midfield will line up and whether Naismith will sometimes play as an auxiliary striker. Would have preferred to see McFadden in there.

Maybe not the most likely way to get the good cup run we've been waiting for again for years. From a selfish point of view I'm quite pleased though - this will be a really easy game to get to.

Last couple of times I've been it's been the Iona on Easter Road - just a little way past the turning for the stadium.