PerfICT

Just looking at Hamilton's fixtures before New Year: ICT, Celtic (game in hand), Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen That is a month from hell.......providing we can start the ball rolling with a defeat (for them!) on Saturday.

If Celtic beat Partick Thistle by 6 on Friday night, we could be back off the bottom without even playing!

^^^^^^^^This!

Nice work, RiG. The definition of a midfielder is somebody who attacks and defends. In the case of holding or defensive midfielders, the emphasis is on the latter - you either go to the ball or track the runner and leave the ball-carrier to the defenders. Vigurs does neither here, although you could argue that Tansey is pretty slow to get back too. Warren is far too advanced, leaving a gap in behind. One pass takes him out of the game and drags Draper out (which he is obliged to do) and Tremarco tracks his runner effectively (which he too has to do). If everybody had done their job, there would not have been a free shot at goal, but sadly there was an absentee and we know what happened next. Put simply, if Polworth had been in that position, I don't think Craig would have had a clear sight of goal. For me, Vigurs is a luxury for a team in our current position. Our team needs to dig in and make sure they concentrate and do their jobs accurately in defence to provide a platform to attack. That requires all of hte midfield to do likewise and Vigurs is too often posted missing for my liking. Unfortunately, our shortage in personnel just now means Vigurs has to play.....but he needs a rocket!

Ordinarily, I would agree with you, Scotty, but the combination of injuries, poor form and suspensions ahead of this one did not inspire confidence! Hamilton next week is altogether mor winnable, but have we got it in us to turn this around? Richie's problem is that injuries and suspensions have robbed him of any sensible flexibility in shape or personnel. Personally, I don't think he can play Tansey and Vigurs together and I would drop Draper into a defensive midfield role.....only he can't because Warren is now suspended, so Draper will have to play in defence. Meanwhile Polworth is also out injured, so Vigurs and Tansey have to play. Not easy!

No panic ......yet. Losses to Aberdeen, Celtic and St J are to be expected. Our remaining games in this cycle are all, bar Rangers, against teams around us. Don't get results there and alarm bells will be ringing.

at least Hearts have turned it round against County. Clutching at straws..

...and Doumboya injured? Anybody left? Now 2-0 down. Game over. Grrrr.

not a good half for scores round the country. Come on Inverness!!!!

Who's left? Have we even got 11?! Would take a draw right now...

It is interesting to see Hartley's response to being rooted at the foot of the table: Shore up the defence and make yourselves hard to beat. It paid dividends against us, where Dundee played 5 at the back and let us play in front of them. We have the defenders, but not the defence at the moment. Personally, I'd put Draper back alongside Tansey - winning ball is his biggest strength.

AWAY AGAIN! Unbelievable....still, at least it's quite close for a good away day!

Would have taken a draw today, so disappointed with that result. If there was ever any doubt that this season was going to be an almighty scrap, there isn't anymore. I would argue that we've had the hardest set of fixtures in the 2nd rotation, but the pressure is now rising for results against those around us - and today wasn't a great start.

Interesting thread! Certainly, Tansey's not been very consistent over the past 12 months: Crisis in confidence? Eyes elsewhere? Asked to play a different role? Who knows? I said at the time that we might have been better taking the cash from Aberdeen when offered, rather than risking losing him for free, which almost certainly happen at the end of this season. I agree with the comment above about Polworth - IHE's suggestion of Tansey for Storey + cash in Jan is a cracker!

The community team at ICT do a really excellent job at schools across the entire region - literally hundreds of schools as far away as Skye. Their Footworx programme is run at P7 level for 4 weeks at all of these schools, which is a monumental effort. My son got interested in football because of a visit to his nursery by ICT community guys and he's been in development squads since he was 10 as a result. He is also a season ticket holder. In addition, school football teams can get hold of free tickets by contacting the club. On top of this, they also do loads of work with adults.... So, for a tiny group, the community team do a great job and shoild be commended. It is unfortunate that County sometimes get in first at some schools, but I'm sure the reverse is true at other schools that County might regard as "their patch".

Nothing to see here. Move on. Hope Polworth is OK.

Great preview tm4tj! I agree that the only tactic for Celtic park is to fry to stay in the game for as long as possible through stuffy defending and hope to nick a late goal. Happy anniversary Caley Mad in Berks - football results ahead of romance sounds dangerous to me!

Mackay - 6: filled in pretty well all in all. Harsh to blame him for Hearts' 2nd - curling ball to far post with a crowded box in front is always dangerous. Mckay - 7: another decent performance in attack and defence. Meekings - 5: worst game for a while - got wrong-sided and then slipped for their first goal and then stood off Djouf for their third. Warren - 7: steady as ever. Tremarco - 6: looked like he was set for another excellent game. Hope he's not out for long. Tansey - 7: much more like it from Greg. Vigurs - 7: likewise. Some excellent passes and had a hand in 2 of the goals. Doran - 8: Excellent game all round, capped by the goal, which was coolly taken. Draper - 7: Wonderful cushioned header to set up Raven. Worked hard throughout Polworth - 8. Got to take your hat off to him - still not his strongest position, but works his socks off and was involved in all 3 goals. Had a wonderful volley and a big shout out for his 70 yard dribble late on, pursued and ultimately fouled by 3 Hearts players! Doumbaya - 7: Much better from him. Worked hard in spells and put in some important challenges. Took his goal well and also hit the bar. Had zero protection from the ref, with a forearm in his neck throughout. Still goes down a little too easily. Raven - 8: Brilliant return for Raves on the wrong side. What a strike for his goal. Mulraney - 5. Not really enough time to make an impact Horner - 3. Even less time, but was fine Foran - 7: I still feel there's a better formation for the players he has, but you can't fault him for offering an entertaining product! Ref - 2: Had an absolute shocker, particularly with respect to perpetual fouling of Doumbaya. Conned by the Hearts players throughout and no support from linesmen.

Very entertaining game- that was worth the money. A draw was a fair result: The only complaints were the ref (who had an absolute mare) and injuries to Fon Williams and Tremarco. Hope they're not serious. All of the team put in a great shift today.

Thanks, RiG - useful account! A few things: The narrowness of the team with Polworth and Doran is not a surprise - it's been that way with Polly all season and Doran is often like that on the left. Much better to play him central or down the right....as Foran clearly did at half time. Moult's effort was just offside - see BBC highlights. Tremarco and Mckay standouts AGAIN - great to have such effective full backs!

Superb result, and some of the others were handy too. Back in the top 6 and 7 points above Dundee. So important to win that one!

2-0: the Doom boy scores! That'll keep a few quiet - including me!

Not great. Hope I'm wrong.

Oh dear - Polworth, Tansey, Vigurs all start and Doumbaya up front. Only plus is a start for Doran, but this could be another display lacking balance and too many similar players in the centre of the park. Hope not.

Yup, Wynees, that was my other option. The point is that Draper and Polworth can play in both attacking and defending roles in midfield - no reason that they can't switch around to keep 'em guessing.