Kingsmills

Laurence, you are talking nonsense. The Popplewell Enquiry sat for weeks hearing evidence about the Valley Parade disaster. As a direct consequence, many safety features were made compulsory including banning the construction of any new wooden stands, restricting the capacity and increasing the number of emergency exits in existing ones. Prohibiting smoking long before the general ban in public places, obliging clubs to do regular fire safety checks and to have a written plan for evacuation in the event of fire. The recommendations of the very thorough and comprehensive enquiry were implemented quickly and in full. There has not been a death or significant injury as a result of fire at any sporting venue in the United kingdom since.

I have every faith in Cammy Mackay. Would much rather have a committed youngster keen and committed to playing than someone who doesn't want to be at the club and who the club doesn't want.

HT; Morton 1, ICT 1 FT; Morton 2, ICT 2 ICT; Doran Morton; McHugh Crowd; 1,452

Which is why Morton are likely to be such dangerous opponents on Tuesday. We can't afford any sort of semi final hangover if we are going to take anything from this fixture. It may be a nightmare from the point of view of trying to sustain full time football on the finances available but it's a fascinating division from a competitive sporting point of view with each and every one of the ten teams either vying for promotion or battling relegation with only four games to go.

As late as a Shaun Rooney tackle?

After an appalling start where he made the ball look like a slippery bar of slope, Ridgers has developed into the best and most reliable goalkeeper we've had since Jimmy Calder. He has the ability to play at a higher level than the Championship and would be a great loss.

However, by contrast, look how well Livingston have done on lower crowds and less money than we had when we were in the top tier. We have done it before and we are capable of doing it again. First however, we would need to play to our full potential and cut out the damaging defensive errors in the play offs which I am now confident we will be part off. Fans need to play their part too and turn out in greater numbers both home and away. Those who don't often attend away matches, I include myself, would I am sure, have attended the final had we won on Saturday. Instead we can surely go to the away leg of at least one play off match and supplement the normal loyal and vocal away crew. Gain promotion and this 'wish list' thread might actually gain some relevance and that for sale sign alluded to by OCG might just come down. If ever there was a time to back the team it's over the next few weeks.

If a third of those who made the journey to Glasgow four years ago made, for most, the much shorter journey to the Longman there would be no financial concerns at all. Never mind, it could be worse, we could be Aberdeen fans !

I am not entirely convinced that we can afford another one.

To be fair to the players, I saw little sign of nerves. Just lost to a team that were more physical, more clinical and who made fewer mistakes.

We certainly missed Donaldson who brings stability and skill to the defence. Hopefully, both he and Tremarco after his injury yesterday, will be fully available for our continuing promotion push.

They would also need a very significant turnaround in goal difference. A point would almost certainly be enough in practical terms.

A bit harsh. He has had the odd promising spell but does lack consistency.

What a ridiculous post. The second half was a bit disappointing and we defended poorly but there is nothing new there. Folk seem to be overlooking the fact that Hearts have a player budget almost six times ours.

A disappointing day at Hampden but a good day for us from a league point of view. Dunfermline losing at home against Falkirk puts us within touching distance of a play off place. What on earth has happened to Queen of the South ? They are in free fall. Half way through the season they looked a very good bet for at least a play off place and now they are at real risk of relegation.

I doubt that the kick off time has stopped many who are committed and determined to go. Time to stop carping about things we can't change and enjoy the experience of being in our sixth major semi final. Remember both Thistle and Caley competed in the Scottish Cup for over a hundred years with neither progressing beyond the last sixteen in all that time. We may not be where we were four years ago but these are still heady occasions and we should relish them.

As you say, without being complacent, there is every ground for optimism. Assuming we fend off Dunfermline for at least fourth spot we have no need to fear either Ayr or United over two legs and whichever Championship side reaches the final stands a sporting chance against the second worse team in a pretty mediocre Premiership. Add the excitement of tomorrow's semi final and it's the best time to be an ICT fan in at least three years. Robbo doesn't get enough credit for what he has achieved with limited resources and a sometimes inept board of directors.

I've reached the point where I have the odd lucid moment punctuation the increasingly senior norm.?

HT; Hearts 1, ICT 0 FT; Hearts 3, ICT 1 ICT; Doran Hearts; Ikpeazu First yellow; Brad McKay First goal; 31 mins Crowd; 21,872

While, from a practical and economic point of view, it would be great to have more players come through our youth system and establish themselves in the first team personally, I don't care where our players come from or what their background as long as they are fully committed when they are are with us.

Does the SFA website indicate whether our special dispensation to have an outfield player make one save in the course of a Scottish Cup semi final is still in force ?

We are firmly underdogs. Over the years we have often excelled in that situation. Nothing to lose, nothing to fear. Going to be another great day out in the Hampden sunshine whatever happens.

Yup the other Thistle are in real peril of successive relegation and Falkirk, with their resources and fan base are huge under achievers. Can you imagine the moaning on this site if we were in either of their positions.

Realistically, they ended about three months ago.

A good night for us. Dunfermline using up their game in hand and not making a dent on our eight point advantage. A shame being overtaken again by Ayr but the first priority is to secure fourth place and we are a step closer to that.