PerfICT

There weren't anything like 5-6k newcomers there. Its more a question of lots of folk who only go to a few games a year all going to the same one. No matter, whether new or occasonal supporters, let's hope they enjoyed the day and come along to support the team more often for the bread and butter games. That is where the foundations of the glory days are laid and where the club really needs the support. Fair point! Substitute "newcomers" with "newcomers/occasional supporters".

Alas, I fear that crowds will drop to their usual hard core levels for the next few games and will only peak again if there is a glimpse of Europe after the split (the 2 games against Motherwell will decide that and I don't rate our chances on Wednesday for as many reasons as you care to mention, unfortunately). I don't think reducing prices will have much of an impact TBH....just hope that the best parts of the experience at Celtic Park might just attract some of the 5-6k newcomers to try out TCS for a league game!

My @rse didn't touch the seat from the moment I arrived until the moment I left..... and nor did anyone else's in 112! He's just sore because two sets of fans from north of the "Falkirk Gap" went and enjoyed a cup final without the bitter taste of sectarianism to spoil the day. He'd better get used to it: Dundee United v St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup final?

I think Tree has a point. Mckay's loss of goalscoring form has coincided with a slight change in shape to the team, which means he is isolated. It isn't even that he's missing loads of chances - he's just not getting them. No striker can work off the scraps he's getting just now, so we either need to get back to where we were or find a different striker. I'd vote forgoing back to where we were....although I suspect we'll need to find a new striker in the summer anyway!

I fail to get excited when we get a free kick around the box because the delivery is always pants! This is a specialist skill and there should be a nominated taker from each side (left and right footed). If we haven't got anybody with the skill to shoot from that range, then do something different: half the other team are tied up in a wall, so there must be bodies free somewhere. This is one (maybe the only) area where the shadow-dwelleres have been better thna us over the past few years - Vigurs and Brittain are/were dangerous from any set-piece around the box and we need to learn from that.

Re: tactics - I think we need to remember that 2 x 5-0 drubbings in the past few weeks would be fresh in the minds. Therefore a tight formation for the first half was very sensible - don't lose an early goal (like we did at Celtic and against Dundee United) and have to chase the game ('cos you know how good we are at that!) I suspect there was a concern that Doran would not last 90 (or 120 min), so best to bring him on to make an impact, which he did. So, I don't think poor tactics lost us the game. In the first half the guys were sooooooo nervous - nothing was sticking and nothing going to feet. They settled in the second half and played some good stuff at times, but the final ball or cross just wasn't good enough to stretch a well-organised defence. The bottom line is that if you only test the keeper once in 120 min, you're not likely to win. Penalties: mckay always goes the same way and keepers have sussed him, which is why he shouldn't have been taking one. Tansey's was no better than Philip Roberts' against Hearts (but I bet he doesn't get the stick that Roberts took!) Brill went the same way every time (and McInnes had sussed that too). So, they had done their homework better than us this time. Still, what a day and what a great support! The team should be proud of what they've achieved and I hope they can lift themselves for a push to Europe!

Crossing was dreadful today, as were free kicks (from both sides, fortunately)!

Gutted, but we didn't create enough to deserve it despite a much better 2nd half with some excellent football. Well done especially to Ross and Christie who were excellent when they came on. The guys played their hearts out: Shinnie was immense again, but they are all heroes!

That's what happens with shadodwellers

That's it! Shame about late DUFC comeback, but top 6 it is!!

With results going our way today, it looks like we are going to be confirmed in the top 6 and therefore no longer able to be in the play-off. Would be a nice wee tonic before the big day! We might then want Dross County to take points of St J?

I have 3 u16 tickets available in section 112, if anyone interested.

The lack of comment from the club would suggest that we've not sold our allocation and have nothing to crow about. As hawkeyethegnu says, this has been debated at length in other threads - the reasons for our small support are multiple and complex; they are unlikely to change dramatically in the near future (but a cup victory would certainly do no harm!), so let's get over it. This is no time to be focusing on a negative - DESPITE our small support and budget we are in a major final and have a fair chance of actually lifting the trophy. I'm just delighted that I'm one of a happy band of followers who will be lucky enough to be there tto witness it!

...agree with just about everything being said here, but Yogi is going to go 4-4-2 which will be a disaster on one of the widest pitches in Scotland. Hope I'm wrong, but that is what he has indicated. Can somebody get to him please?

Don't like the sound of the "...Billy definitely needs a foil up front...." peice about Richie Foran. Sounds like the dreaded 4-4-2 to me (unless Yogi's bluffing??!!) http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/fierce-foran-tackle-gave-hughes-a-fright-1-3338582

My thoughts exactly! If he starts with Wyness101's team, with the option of reverting to Yogi's team if we need a goal, I'd be happy with that, but don't go 4-4-2 from the start..................Please!

Can start to think properly about it now. Productivity at work down the tubes!

We've really missed Draper in the last couple of games. Back to 4-2-3-1 for the final......please!

Masterstroke from Hughes; save all the goals for the final...at least I hope that's what's happening. Bring it on...the big day is nigh!

....unless you appeal

....seen that before: the Leizig goal is true class - Love it!

Like Sneckboy, apparently, I'm a bit of a stats nerd! The corner stat is fascinating: between 1.5 and 3% of corners actually result in a goal (some teams are better than others at both scoring from them and defending them). And yet we all get so excited by them. Some of you will have seen that Barca often don't just pelt the ball into the midlle any more - they simply see it as an opportunity to keep possession.The point is that a cross into the box is effectively a 50:50 ball, so it is little wonder that goals from corners are so rare. It is astonishing that more inventive corners are not adopted by more teams. Back to who scores first and ICT - the stats are astounding for us....Sneckboy will no doubt tell us whether a whole season has ever been achived wherby a team has never won a game in which they've conceded first and/or t'other way around? I'm sure it says something about us, but I'm not quite sure what...

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11781/9206234/greg-tansey-and-marley-watkins-set-to-play-for-inverness-caley-against-aberdeen Given the above, there's no way it is worth risking an appeal: the players would be dead against it and, throw in the cost and the chances and I'm sure they'll be left. Short again in midfield for Hibs, though!

Brill Raven Devine Meekings Shinnie Foran Vincent Doran Ross Williams Mckay subs: Esson, Tremarco, Warren, Polworth, Christie, Pepper, Geenhaugh

Great memories of the RC game last year: that is what support is all about - lose 1-0, miss out on Europe, but continue singing until the stewards throw us out. The beach balls were fantastic! Same again on Sunday, please (except the score!)