We scored against Ayr
We beat Ayr
We won on tv
We won when I was there
United have pretty much now secured second place with a rallying victory against third place Ayr United, and in doing so delayed County's title victory by at least (mathematically) two games after their draw against Partick Thistle.
It was an interesting game (imo anyway) in so much that the United team included alleged money smuggler and the constantly injured Osman Sow, and I was keen to see what he offered, particularly since he was in the team ahead of both Clark and, perhaps more controversially, Safranko. Many United fans were oddly outraged by this. I was happy enough with the selection. Neither benched players had scored against Ayr this season while we need minutes into Sow to see if he'll be any use in the play-offs.
Ultimately the manager was vindicated, although many of the outraged felt he was lucky as the subs changed the game. Sow had an odd game. Some poor touches showed how rusty he is, but I don't think he played *that* badly. He certainly should have been awarded a penalty and he generally put himself about quite well, but he was also starved of service primarily because the midfield was horrendous during the first 45 minutes. I can't stress how bad Harkes and Butcher were in that first period and Harkes in particular was lucky we only had Fyvie on the bench or I doubt he would have come out after the break.
However the manager did make subs in the second half and as noted, they changed the game. Safranko and Clark came on for Sow and Booth and they were excellent. An argument can be made (and McCall made it) that they were coming on against a tired defence, but they ran them ragged along with the tireless McMullan.
Safranko scored a cracker to level the tie after we conceded our customary goal from a set play. Harkes cross was flicked on and he controlled it on his chest and fired it into the top corner. There was only one winner after that and it came from a poor bit of play by the Ayr keeper, who panicked and cleared to McMullan who drove into the box and fired a fine finish across the keeper.
It gives hope for the play-offs and it was good to have options off the bench. We still have a long way to go and there are still concerns - we could easily have let them back into it on Friday if Shankland hadn't slipped when through on goal - but we do have a chance. Time will tell.
On a separate note, how competitive a league is the Championship this season? Half the teams can still get relegated.
Alloa deserve all the credit going for pulling themselves clear and I'm sure a few clubs are having a look at Jim Goodwin who has done a tremendous job there. Partick are looking in big trouble and Falkirk still have a job to do despite a fine win at Dunfermline. And QotS could get relegated despite all of Dobbie's goals (and he's now injured for the rest of the season!).
Crazy league.
Mon the Terrors
DUFC 2 AUFC 1
posted on 15/4/19
Tempted to go to one of the meaningful games. I was cycling Glasgow to Edinburgh for some reason back in September and stopped on the canal path by Firhill as noticed there was a game on.Watched the first half and I think it was 3-2 against QOTS at HT or something like that.
I wonder if there are any other grounds where you can watch for free and avoid giving a rival (next season) any money.
posted on 15/4/19
So many games this season you can point to with United and think "if only...". Could have still been in with a shout had we not kept shooting ourselves in the foot.
Don't think County will blow it and that leaves us with the play-offs. If it's Ayr United and St. Mirren we have to beat, I'm not optimistic.
posted on 15/4/19
comment by Drunken Hobo (U7360)
posted 40 seconds ago
So many games this season you can point to with United and think "if only...". Could have still been in with a shout had we not kept shooting ourselves in the foot.
Don't think County will blow it and that leaves us with the play-offs. If it's Ayr United and St. Mirren we have to beat, I'm not optimistic.
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but if it's......
posted on 15/4/19
I'd rather play Ayr than ICT to be honest, especially since Ayr have seemingly collapsed now.
After that...I think my blood pressure would prefer us to play St Mirren.
posted on 15/4/19
comment by Andrew Nelson (U1734)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Drunken Hobo (U7360)
posted 40 seconds ago
So many games this season you can point to with United and think "if only...". Could have still been in with a shout had we not kept shooting ourselves in the foot.
Don't think County will blow it and that leaves us with the play-offs. If it's Ayr United and St. Mirren we have to beat, I'm not optimistic.
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but if it's......
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Could be ICT then St. Mirren. Not sure who I'd prefer - Ayr have had our number this season but the backside has fallen out of them. Would probably prefer whoever finishes 4th.
As for the Premiership team? Don't kid yourself.
posted on 15/4/19
Before Friday I would’ve rather played ICT, but I now have this sneaky feeling we would go through against Ayr (now we have that monkey off our back as it were). St Mirren... We’ve already beaten them away this season. Hamilton look much worse than they usually do (and that’s saying something) - the one I don’t want is Dundee. To be honest if they’re not going to finish 12th I would rather they were 10th. I couldn’t go through that again!!
posted on 15/4/19
For Dundee to finish 10th would require them to get 7 points from 5 games - a feat they have only managed once this season. They're currently on a streak of 7 losses - even in our relegation season we only managed 4-in-a-row.
They're down. Absolute certainties.
posted on 15/4/19
I think Dundee are down as well, although St Mirren and Hamilton are utterly kack too.
Sadly we're also kack which makes the playoffs hard for us.
posted on 15/4/19
I think everyone wants it to be between Dundee and St Mirren come the last day of the season. Live on TV. Shaking just thinking about it. Then I realise if we do get 11th then we will still have two games against United and a little bit of poo comes out.
posted on 15/4/19
The tension will be terrific and utterly unbearable.