Robert

Rory McAllister for Montrose yesterday. Two each for Anthony McDonald and Andrew MacRae for Brechin and Brora respectively. Graeme Shinnie was sent off for Aberdeen after two yellow cards.

I can’t explain why but I fancy us for three points tomorrow. With Ayr losing tonight, we need a win to keep our play off chances alive and keep pressure on the teams we are trying to catch. Hopefully we see MacGregor get some game time before the semi. I’m not surprised at Dodds’ comments about Ram. It was obvious he was playing when not fully fit for some weeks before he dropped out of the squad. Hopefully he recovers soon.

Hotel booked, tickets bought, roll on Hampden!

After a blank weekend (as far as I could tell), tonight Harry Hennem for Clach and Andrew MacRae and Ali Sutherland for Brora.

Norway away and Georgia at home in June. Four points from those and maybe, just maybe, we will be in the running for automatic qualification. But we are Scotland so anything can happen. It feels good tonight though!!

They said that on A View From The Terrace on Friday.

What a result tonight! Who’d have thought McTominay would be our goal scoring hero. Being 5 points ahead of Norway could be vital as we look to finish in the top 2. Well done to all in the squad and to Steve Clarke.

Fair enough although it’s probably a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation for the club. Those involved with the supporters buses are better placed than me to comment on the scale of what that would involve.

Anyone know which is the best section to buy tickets in? North stand and hope the sun shines??

I’d imagine the Supporters Club had prices for all main venues, including Glasgow, for the full season, whereas the club will be arranging one off hires for the day so may well be being charged more. There is a driver shortage and I’d suspect companies like D&E were already heavily committed before we made the semi final. I know of someone who was quoted £1000 for a one way coach hire from Inverness to Clava in June so the club may not be profiting from the £28 charge at all.

That made me laugh too! Post of the year?! The club’s report on the match: https://ictfc.com/match-report-ictfc-1-0-partick-thistle-24-03-2023

I agree with that. It was a cynical and unnecessary foul, but we see them in almost every game and normally a yellow at worst.

I thought he had a decent game trying to break things up and stop Partick playing in midfield. I was worried when we lost Devine pre-match (and did Mckay miss part of the warm up too as I didn’t see him doing shooting practice) but the defence coped remarkably well with Partick’s thugs and got a deserved clean sheet. A shout out for Delaney who didn’t let the early (possibly harsh) yellow stop him playing his part, particularly as he was the right sided central defender so on his weaker foot. Any word on Ram, as he’s been out for a while now, and we are short at the back depending on the issues with Devine and Duffy.

Under the circumstances that is probably our best result of the season. The attitude and commitment of the players after Welsh was wrongly sent off was great to see and hopefully the injustice galvanises them to go on a run. Beat Morton next week and, who knows, maybe the play offs could be a possibility. The first half was dire, with a flat atmosphere and the feeling of an end of season game with nothing at stake. The weather probably contributed to that. Ridgers’ save was the highlight in a half we started pretty well but Partick finished on top. Henderson created a great goal for Shaw then the referee lost the plot with the sending off. From then on it was backs to the wall but we got the job done despite it feeling like 10 v 12. Well done to all involved with, for me, Ridgers MOM followed by Henderson and Shaw. Hopefully Devine is fit for next week and we have some other casualties back too. It felt good getting that win against all the odds!

Delaney and Welsh in for Duffy and Mackay. Presumably Carson at right back and Harper left midfield. Its chucking it down at the ground just now

We are long overdue a home league win. Let’s make tonight the night it happens!

I see you can prepay for the last 5 home league games for £16: https://www.icttrust.org.uk/book-a-course?store-page=Car-Parking-Pass-22-23-Season-p541298601 Ironically the small print says it excludes play off matches….. if only we could get into them!!

Aidan Wilson for Rothes again tonight.

I set this debate off by stating my worry that if we don’t get our act together in the league and IF we beat Falkirk, we will have 29 days between matches, and therefore worried about the outcome. I also said I want us to win the semi, but I’m certainly not getting ahead of myself or seeing us as something we are not. I just want league and cup success, as we all do, but also recognise our position at present. We need to play every game the way we played Livingston and Kilmarnock or our season will peter out tamely.

In terms of our league season, Friday night is a must win game. Three points and we move within six of Partick in fourth with a game in hand, within four of Morton in fifth and ahead of Raith. That leaves the play offs as a possibility, albeit we remain outsiders to sneak fourth, but it keeps the league season alive. Lose and we’ve just the cup to focus on. It worries me that, if we beat Falkirk, we have a 29 day break if we are not in the play offs so we risk not being match fit for a game against one of the Old Firm. I want us to make the final, but I also want us to make a positive impression, and having some play off games will help keep the squad match fit. If ever a winning run is needed, it is now.

How did we line up? Duffy and Harper as full backs, Carson alongside Allardice in midfield, and Shaw and Henderson wide with Mackay in the no 10 role?

The club’s report: https://ictfc.com/match-report-queens-park-2-1-ictfc-18-03-2023

Started at 3, dipped to 2, got as high as 5 after the Killie game, but ending at 3. We have the potential, on paper we have the squad, but we are inconsistent and fail to deliver consistently. This could easily be a season to forget that cements our place in the Championship and is another step towards becoming part time, but we could end up at Hampden twice and be within 90 minutes of an amazing achievement by actually winning the cup and qualifying for Europe (no, I don’t expect that to happen!). Either way, a big decision looms for the Board and CEO that will determine our short and medium term fortunes. We need financial stability but we also need a competitive product on the pitch that inspires fans and retains and grows the local support.

Was relying on BBC app today and only catching up now. At half time we seemed to be well in it but sounds like we didn’t play in the second half. We’ve eight league games left and need to use them to develop consistency and learn how to play for 90 minutes. We’ve a great chance to salvage something from a car crash of a season when we play Falkirk in the semi: we can’t under estimate them and need to approach it as we did the Killie game. If we don’t, the season will peter out tamely with most of the squad out of contract and all the financial uncertainty. In my opinion, it is critical that we seize the chance and ensure we get to the final. We will probably get battered in it, but financially it could be the difference between part time and full time football in the near future, and we have been known to spring the odd upset in the cup so you never know…..

Michael Gardyne for Montrose and Manny Duku for York today. Coll Donaldson also scored, but for Queen of the South rather than Falkirk. In the Highland League, Aiden Wilson for Rothes.