Jan Vojáček

I'd say the going was 'soft'. Probably not too dissimilar to the Peterhead or Stranraer games. If I was being mega-positive I'd say it might actually be marginally better than in the Peterhead game.

The last one at The Rock wasn't

Noor might be one of the thickest people to ever appear on this.

I neither have a beard or like pro-wrestling. Actually. Hang on. Maybe that explains why I'm only on once every few weeks. Will grow some facial fuzz, develop an interest in wrestling and report back

Maybe they'll manage to prompt an SFA investigation. Or is that only when certain clubs have games called off because of ropey parks?

If you want a really good laugh, I note that Broomhill are at 'home' on Sunday. Two games in 24 hours after a week where it's due to rain at least once. Good luck, lads.

Hi Darren, As someone working in the media, the idea that any outlet has an agenda against a certain team always cracks me up. And is universally pedalled by folk who have never set foot in a newsroom - or have rarely spoken to a journalist irl. This isn't a dig at you by the way, just a dig more generally at folk convinced that there's some sort of conspiracy. It was something that fascinated me when I was at Uni and I did a few assessments on it. One in particular focused on the 'Daily Ranger v Dhaily Rhebel' and how Old Firm fans perceived the Record, which was pretty interesting. This is my ninth year covering Sons. One of the highlights of my career is when I was accused of having an agenda against the club - who I've supported all my life, who I'm a fourth generation fan of and where I've done God knows how many hours of volunteering from the stream to painting the concourse - by another fan on Facebook. Anyway, feel free to drop me a PM if you want anything from someone working in the industry. Happy to email you over a few responses if there are any direct questions or theories you want to be put to me. All the best with the dissertation.

I heard it as "And Dingwall has died" which absolutely creased me. Especially with the deadpan delivery. I'm assuming it was "Dingwall has dived", but I really hope it wasn't. Duncan Williams is an atrocious referee, and whilst I think the worst decision of the lot is not giving Elgin a penalty in the first-half, I can see why Stranraer feel aggrieved. I know exactly how he managed that game from watching those highlights. Someone in football said to me a few months ago "the problem with Duncan is that he's just so fucking arrogant" when I was chatting about him. He's got the Andrew Dallas trait of really talking down to players and removing common sense or conversation from the situation. People should accept mistakes from a ref, they happen. I think it's far fairer to judge a referee on how they conduct themselves (Sean Murdoch the other week was absolutely superb in that regard, although I guess being an ex pro helps) and that's where Williams really struggles imo.

Whilst the goalkeeper is catastrophic for the fifth, look at the desire from Mikey Ruth to run from deep inside his own half to put the keeper under a bit of pressure. He's done that all season and just watched the ball get booted back over his head. So I'm glad he got a reward. The guy's work ethic is different class. Likewise Finlay Gray doing the sort of things that got us all so excited last year for the sixth. Duracell Bunny pace to surge forward, then playing a terrific pass at the right moment. Again that just kind of sums up how we played yesterday. The players all worked their arses off for the full 90 minutes. James Graham, based on early showings, reminds me a bit of Calum Gallagher in his first season or so with us. Ungainly and a bit awkward looking. But rapid and direct. That finish was very Calum Gallagher too.

I'd suggest to the Bonnyrigg fan that, if he doesn't want spat at by a Clyde player, he should simply not spit at the Clyde player. Vile stuff all round. I feel like everyone would've been far more supportive of Scullion just lamping him and taking the ban for that.

I should've said earlier (and I say it every time we play them) but what a lovely club Spartans are. Every single person associated with them who I've ever encountered has been a genuinely class act and a credit to their club. Right from when you go in, the guys on the gate, the officials hanging about, the coaches (I assume) of the kids teams. The kids themselves. Even up to the first team players all look to have bought into Dougie Samuel's ethos. It's daft wee things, but I was stood outside the changing rooms for post-match and every single Spartans player made a wee comment as they left. Just a 'see you later' 'all the best' that kind of stuff. But really decent, especially when you've been stuffed in a game and probably just want to get up the road. Most players don't do that in my experience. They were gracious when they beat us in October. And equally as gracious this afternoon. If I A) Had a kid and B) Lived in Edinburgh then I'd be really keen to get him involved with the club. I say it over and over again. I want to hate them as B team appeasers, but I just can't. I hope all the kids there today continue to follow them and either (in the Jamie Dishington style) make it to the first team, or at least continue supporting the club from the sidelines.

That was just great fun today. Exactly what keeps you hooked. Going in to a game where it felt like we had no chance, a host of players missing, a team we haven't beaten all season and them at pretty much full strength. And bang. We go and do that. The main takeaway for me though is that we didn't have to turn in any once a career exceptional performances. Everyone played very well, but there's no reason why it shouldn't be possible for them to produce similar performances for the remaining games. Including the playoffs. If we do that then we're a match for anyone. Right from the off we just looked more up for it than Spartans. We were sharper, braver, more direct. We challenged with a bit more desire. It's such a cliche, we just wanted it a lot more. I don't really know where to start. So let's go for Ryan Blair turning into prime David Beckham. His first was a lovely low curled effort. And I really fancied him for it from the moment he stepped up. The second one has more power and less finesse. But I was blown away to see us scoring two direct free kicks in one game! Even after Spartans levelled (through a stunner of a free kick from Cammy Russell) we were straight up the other end looking to score. Blair Carswell made a terrific save from Jinky Hilton, Ryan Blair had one off the line and then we grabbed the second. The third was an absolutely booming strike from Gallagher Lennon on his weak foot, and a nice way for him to end the week. We were cruising at 3-1. But right before half-time made a total mess of defending a high ball; neither Lennon nor Mark Durnan covered themselves in glory based on my view. And Spartans had a way back into the game. Early in the second-half Jay Hogarth made a really sharp one-on-one save. We go up the other end a few minutes later, get a free-kick, Ryan Blair does what Ryan Blair does. And that's game over. The fifth and sixth goals were possibly harsh on Spartans who didn't ever throw the towel in. But who were just second best all over the park. Michael Ruth finally got his reward for chasing every goalkeeper down when Blair Carswell got his feet in a muddle and gifted him the ball. Fair play, he kept his composure to round him and slot into the net. And the sixth, from James Graham, was a nice finish as Spartans again went AWOL at the back. In terms of performances, nobody played poorly. But everyone played to quite a similar level. I thought Mark Durnan showed exactly what we've been missing for the last few months. He was dominant in the air, constantly talking and full of controlled aggression. He went on a nice wee run before feeding Michael Ruth to win the free kick for the first goal too. Cian Newbury continues to be impressive, Finlay Gray buzzed about everywhere and Callum Wilson - although not explosive like Kalvin Orsi - put in a real team player's shift out on right wing. He covered Aron Lynas well, used the ball well and didn't look like someone who hasn't kicked a ball for 11 months. I think Aron Lynas is worthy of being singled out for some praise too. It was like someone had found last season's Aron and snuck him back in. He managed his extremely harsh early booking well, he used the ball in a simple but effective way. And nobody wanted the ball more than him for his goal. He absolutely hurled himself at it. As he always does. Aron is a terrific guy. And I don't think there's a footballer with a bigger heart or more bravery in the country than him. He leaves everything out there and I was delighted to see him back to his best. You could see his confidence growing and him playing with a swagger as the game went on. From Spartans' POV it was a funny game. They weren't bad. They didn't chuck it any stage. They were always trying to look a threat. But they made a lot of bad mistakes and we punished almost every one. I don't know if it was a one off or if they are starting to feel the efforts of a really positive debut season in the SPFL. But they looked leggy, jaded and really sloppy in possession. Which is something I wouldn't expect for a side with their quality. From our side. Does this mean we will or won't get promoted in May? Who the hell cares? We've just scored six goals away from for the first time in 13 years. And done it against a strong side. I'm going to thoroughly enjoy this result for the rest of the weekend, and we'll deal with the end of the season when it comes.

This has been great fun tbh.

I'm extremely excited to see the state of the pitch in the highlights.

We haven't had him since 2019. However I note that we've not scored a goal let alone won a game he's refereed of ours. So plz keep him in the big boy leagues.

Colin Steven's rise up the refereeing ranks is one of the most baffling about imo. At least with Andrew Dallas you knew nepotism was involved. But this guy?

There's not really much I can add to this. There's been a bubbling undercurrent of unpleasantness around DFC for a while; and the line was obviously crossed at Clyde, and then crossed again this time. Albeit in (by the looks of it) a much bigger way. I cannot get my head around people shouting stuff that is personally abusive. I don't get it at all. Football is supposed to be something we do for enjoyment (lolz). Nobody is forcing anyone to be there. And if it makes you so angry that you're unable to get through 90 minutes without saying something that prompts a club statement and a police investigation then it's probably best for all concerned that you spend your Saturdays somewhere else. We have big issues as a club on and off the park. But daft things like this are the last thing we need, especially given the damage it will do our reputation. I've already had folk message me saying they 'didn't know you had that element in your support'.

See you in the playoffs for the most depressing game of the season, where both sides fight it out for the right to lose to Peterhead or Spartans in a shame game?

Aye. Basically this. We've won four games in four months. On the back of blowing a double figure lead in the league last season and then losing 6-0 to Annan in the playoffs semi-final first leg. And being relegated the season before that. It's been a rare laugh.

Reading the last few pages of your thread (and just keeping an eye on it generally over the last few months) and if you swapped 'Bartley' for 'Farrell' it would easily pass as our thread. Fascinating to see which board cracks first. I keep hearing that, at any other club, Faz would've been sacked by now. Which is probably true...with you you guys the only exception. I'm staggered Bartley is still in a job.

Cian Newbury is the same age, and isn't a big strapping guy at all. In fact Lennon is physically bigger. But I've not seen anyone throw him about. Lennon just lacks physical attributes full stop unfortunately. He's not got pace, he's not got strength and he's not got much of a leap on him.

I think he's probably, technically, an excellent player. A good touch, close control, skilful. All that stuff. But he looks like a child on the pitch. He's just so small and so easily bumped off the ball. And he doesn't have explosive pace or anything to cover for that. His confidence looked absolutely rock bottom this afternoon until we scored. Then he went on a couple of decent runs and punted in a good cross which made me think there might be something there. I reckon he's the sort of player who'll be great in a team that are flying. And a bit of an empty jersey in that area struggling.

The short version is that my garden fence needs painting. And I'm keen to do that before you (or anyone else) tries to steal it as a way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

That was a really odd game. And the ending was grimly predictable. So much so, that it provoked virtually no anger. Just everyone streaming for the exits and a few sighs of 'f**k's sake'. It was weirdly, mainly, because of East Fife. For the first 20 minutes and last 15 or so they were superb. They penned us in, dominated the midfield and should've added to their three goals. In fact they should've been 3-0 ahead inside 15 minutes, with Nathan Austin somehow hitting the post from about two yards and Stuart Murdoch almost catching out the very shaky looking Jay Hogarth from long range. With the ball hitting the bar. After that start, they dropped out of the game. And we really should've been level before half-time when Finlay Gray missed a sitter. With the wind at our backs we started the second-half very well. Both goals were really decent. The first working the ball out to the left, a good pass by Tony Wallace and a terrific finish from Finlay Gray. The second saw Michael Ruth finally get a reward for all the chasing of balls punted into the channels. Robbing Brian Easton and teeing up Jinky Hilton (via a lovely Gray dummy) to stroke in. Then we crumble almost immediately. Conceding from a corner. Which has been an Achilles Heel all season. It looked like Jay Hogarth should've done a lot better too, but I'm not sure if he had bodies in the way. From that goal until about 10 minutes from time I was very comfortable it was ending 2-2. Both sides looked quite content with that. But then East Fife went for it, Hogarth had the bar to thank for bailing him out after another awkward save. And made a decent rebound save after spilling a long range Jack Healy shot. Before making one of the weirdest attempts to save a header I've ever seen. Resulting in Nathan Austin's winning goal. I'm not sure if it was the wind, a deflection or just a howler. But I thought the header was his all the way. Right up until the moment it hit the net. We could've crumbled after going behind early. And I thought we were miles off it early on. But the players did show a bit of fight in the second-half. Mark Durnan being back made a difference and I thought he played well. It was also the best game I think Jinky Hilton has had for us, maybe excepting the Forfar match. He was skilful, used the ball well, took his goal well and worked hard for the cause. Michael Ruth was Michael Ruth. Tony Wallace was Tony Wallace. Despite his goal, I didn't think Finlay Gray played all that well. Especially when it came to using the ball. Cian Newbury likewise did some things that were very good, and some things that saw him getting overrun. Aaron Healy showed about five minutes of promise after our goals, and was then hooked. By far and away our biggest issue however is the defence. Nathan Austin started playing off Mark Durnan, and didn't get a great deal of joy. It was just two big strong boys giving as good as they for. Then he targeted Gallagher Lennon. And ragdolled him for the whole of the second-half. Lennon is just not ready for this level of football yet; and it can't be doing him any good getting roasted constantly. His confidence must be in tatters. Left-back is obviously a major issue too. As we all know. And I don't have a clue what we do there. Blair Malcolm was at fault for the opening goal and got roasted a few times. Ryan Blair isn't very good there at all, but he seems like our only passable option. And that's bloody terrifying. Fourth place is still very much in our hands. Eight games remaining and all we have to do is make sure that East Fife don't win two more than us is a challenge most teams should be confident in overcoming. But we really are a rabble at times defensively, and I've no faith at all in this squad to play sensibly and string together a five or six game run of positive results. We've won four games since Brett Long broke his ankle in the first week of December. That's harrowing. I know we all knew Brett was excellent, but I don't think we maybe appreciated just how vital he was at papering over defensive cracks.

Did we release Scott Lambie as a kid or something? Anyway. East Fife should've been 3-0 up before we started by playing. But since eventually finding our feet there's not been a lot in it. Finlay's chance looked an absolute sitter. East Fife would be smart to just keep playing down our left and nowhere else in the second-half. Malcolm is on a ridiculously soft booking which Lambie will turn into a red at the first given opportunity and Lennon is a lost lamb.