Robert

4 minutes ago, IBM said:

You are getting soft Robert I want a win!

So do I but I don’t expect it!!

Partick 2 down should give both teams an incentive to try to win this. As things stand, must admit I’d take a draw.

Two very poor goals to concede and we are behind as a result.

We had the best of it until Raith got their second but Raith have finished the half more strongly.

When we got back to 1-1, I thought we would  kick on but the quick Raith goal seems to have knocked the stuffing out of us.

A big 45 ahead and we need to turn this round as we are now out of the play off places as things stand.

Didn’t last long. 2-1 down. Poor defending again. 

1-1. Sutherland tap in from Doran corner.

We deserve to be at least level based on the play so far. 

Should be 1-1. How did the ‘keeper keep Hardy’s shot and Mckay’s follow up out there?

It may not be our day today!

One down. Shot from outside the box after a corner. MacKay should have stopped it as it went right through him.

We’d been on top until then but only one attempt of note when the ‘keeper saved from Hardy. 

Livestream on. Looking forward to this. Hopefully three points coming our way.

Pink kit today. 

31 minutes ago, Kingsmills said:

Not necessarily a good thing that we are playing the bottom five.

Our record against them has generally been poor this season and that needs to change quickly if our promotion hopes are to remain intact.

I know. That’s why I highlighted it. Dunfermline and Hamilton in particular have had the edge over us. 

Tomorrow is definitely a game we cannot afford to lose and also one we really need to win.

We should be aiming for second, at worst, not fourth if we genuinely have promotion aspirations.

Hopefully last week’s result has given the squad much needed confidence and they kick on from that.

Our record against Raith over 90 minutes is excellent. Now is not the time to blow it.

After tomorrow, 5 of our last 6 games are against the bottom 5 so we need momentum to build a (surprising given the last 3 months) challenge for as high a position as we can manage.

Forfar @ 1.90 please. 

HT 1-1

FT 1-2

ICT Mckay

Raith Poplatnik

Crowd 1598

Roddy MacGregor is back training but it will be next week before he is able to train fully so he is a couple of weeks away from being able to play.

Good news that we will have him for much of the run in. 

Manny Duku can’t stop scoring! He got another one tonight. Also two for Robbie Thomson for Clach. 

Congratulations to Sam Pearson who has been called up for the Wales Under 21 squad. Unfortunately it means he misses our game against Dunfermline on the 26th:

https://ictfc.com/sam-pearson-called-up-for-wales-u21

Scotland are playing a friendly against Poland on 24 March, the day we should have been playing Ukraine and they would have been playing Russia.

£10 from each ticket is being donated to UNICEF to help Ukraine. 

Glad you enjoyed your trip north: you picked the right weekend!!

Duffy has not really done anything wrong when he has featured, either at right back or centre half. With Broadfoot (presumably) bowing out in the summer, it makes sense to keep him on board, particularly if we may lose the likes of Deas.

Devine also needs credit for his performances this season. He has really matured into a really good defender and talks the defence through games.

Devine and Duffy could be a decent pairing for us next season. 

Reflecting on this afternoon, it was good to see Walsh back for a spell and he looked up for it despite being overlooked in recent weeks. Duffy and Harper also played their part off the bench.

Doran was harshly booked after being kicked whilst on the ground after a foul. It should have been a red card for the Arbroath player but the referee took the easy option as Doran understandably reacted. It was a good decision to sub him as he was clearly incensed by the way the Arbroath player had treated him.

I was surprised Broadfoot was subbed. Had he taken a knock or was it because the Arbroath strikers had the beating of him? Duffy was faultless after he took over.

Carson was needlessly booked for an unnecessary foul as we entered stoppage time. Hopefully it doesn’t result in a suspension in the run in. He did seem more like himself though.

I was surprised MacKay started ahead of Ridgers again. Maybe Ridgers is not fully fit?

I liked the look of Hardy. He made a nuisance of himself throughout his time on the pitch, whilst Mckay seemed much more like himself in today’s formation.

Let’s just do less of the long high ball game, please.

Anyway, good to have the win and maybe Dodds’ comments about a run will come to fruition. We need to kick on and show today was not a one off.

Cheers Gringo, any chance of reminding us of how many jokers we all have left?

Today I’ve noted Tobi Sho-Silva for Carlisle, Col Donaldson for Dunfermline, he who cannot be named for Montrose (who also managed to get sent off), Nathan Austin for Kelty and Manny Duku for Havant and Waterlooville. 

I really enjoyed that, and at last a Saturday feels like a Saturday should, after a great afternoon watching football: a good all round performance, a comfortable win and a morale boosting three points.

My only complaint is that we still hoofed a lot of high balls forward, giving Mckay and Hardy little chance.

I thought every player played their part, and we were certainly motivated and committed. We got a bit of luck when Arbroath hit the post but generally coped pretty well, with a lot of bodies put on the line to block efforts.

Sutherland was the pick for me. His early goal settled us and his work rate was immense. The highlight was McAlear’s finish after some quick, excellent play.

And a shout out for the singing section who were vocal throughout the game.

One game does not forgive the last three months, but if we can maintain the level of performance and commitment, a play off spot should be ours.

Well done!

1 hour ago, IBM said:

I will be there as usual hoping for our first win this year but not expecting it. 

Exactly. Hope rather than expectation for me today too!

6 minutes ago, Fraz said:

Get to hear that training is good and that all we need is some luck because apparently we've just been unlucky for the last 660 minutes. 

Make that 990!!

Not a March fixture, but our game away to Queen of the South, postponed from 2 April due to the Challenge Cup Final, will take place on Tuesday 19 April. 

Hamilton @ 2.10 please.