NorthBank

Ayunga has now been called up to the Kenya squad.

Today was probably the most un-St Mirren thing I have ever witnessed. I cannot ever rememher being a goal down in the 90th minute and winning the match. It simply doesn't happen to us. Until today.

Olusanya should be starting every game.

Our crossing has been shit all night. Either cannot get it in or no variation.

Hope Olusanya comes on at half time.

Frustrating thing for me yesterday, especially in the first half was the crossing. Tanser had totally free reign down that left hand side and constantly hit the exact same high ball to the far post. Considering all Livi defenders are over 6ft and we only had Mandron there he rarely even got near the ball. So easy for the Livi defence. I would like to see more variety like passing into the box and cut backs to the edge or low and hard across the goal. These constant crosses were a total waste of the domination that we had down that left wing. However, rarely have I seen us dominate Livi like we did yesterday. There was simply little composure with the forwards. And I and the guys I was with were all certain Mandron was missing that penalty. His body language told us everything. Just a bad but not altogether unexpected bad day at the office.

We are averaging 5200 home fans this season. A steady improvement over the last few years.

I was glad to see Main start before Bayayoko(sp?) who tormented us up at Dens. But even happier we never signed him as we have enough forwards who cannot score. Dundee should have been 1 up in the first half but second half we could easily had 5 goals. Great result tonight.

I'd prefer Kiltie playing behind 2 strikers in between the lines than currently competing with Tanser for crosses coming in from the left wing. Where he plays just now is not to his strengths; he gets in Tanser's way and gives Tanser less troom to work in when Kiltie goes wide left. Playing behind 2 strikers gives us more bodies in and around the box and allows Kiltie ro be in shooting positions. Change this 343 to 3412 would be a improvement imho. 343 is no longer working.

Another Internationalist? Soon we'll have no-one left for training at International breaks as everyone will be away. I make that 7 internationalists in the squad. The power of Paisley, eh?

Stav & Jonah look like the best partnership we have. And a wee mention for Small - strength and ability and will improve if given game time. But overall a far better performance today.

At the start of the season we were confident, assured, played a pressing game and played through the midfield. All to great effect. Now the confidence seems to have evaporated. Passing and decision making is woeful and we now float aimless high balls from the backline missing out the midfield. At least the pressing was a lot better last night than it had been in a while. And it was a game we should have won. We know these players can do better. Robbo just needs to work out how. Basic passing would be a start.

Poor tonight especially our back line who have contributed zero. Fraser's first four 'crosses' were either at knee height; hit the defender in front of him; or he hit it to the far post without looking and no-one anywhere near it. Dunne can only 'pass' straight out the park. And Gogic invariably takes quick free kicks to the man nearest him who isn't expecting it and any advantage is lost. O'Hara is only passing sideways. A wee bit of class can go a long way - pity there is none on display.

Earlier in the season we played a high press and passed through the midfield. An effective tactic which worked for us. However we are now sitting back more allowing the opposition to dictate with no high press. And with one or two big strikers playing we now miss out the midfield by just lumping high balls from the defence. Think we need a reset and get back to what once worked.

I get why Robinson changed to a back 5 for the second half when we were a goal up and Livi never looked like scoring in the first half. However it meant a dire second half and a risky tactic with only one goal in it. However we done the business and reasonably comfortably in my view.

Maybe because he has McMenemin in front of him and there is no space to run into? My complaint on Saturday (besides everyone being awful), was Kiltie and McMenemin were playing far too wide nullifying our own wing backs and leaving Mandron in the box on his own. And often he would go wide to get the ball leaving no-one in the box. The front players have to play a lot closer together and leave space for the wingbacks.

Really bad day at the office but we had to have an off-day sometime. However what got me the most was why were McMenamin / Kiltie then Greive / Jamieson playing so wide on the touchline? We have wingbacks for that job. That left one striker in the box all game with no support. Not saying playing the front three closer would have changed much today but that formation was never going to pressure any defence. Why change a winning formula?

He needs to work a lot harder when we are out of possesion like the first half last night where he strolled about and didn't close down enough. Hence taken off after 50 mins due to poor workrate.

Poor performance from us for some reason. Too many bad passes and several players having a very off night. Mandron should be 4th pick behind Olusanya, Greive and Jamieson - at least those 3 work hard. Really surprised he came out second half considering he was totally useless first half.

For what it's worth I reckon you'll end up above Livi.

Beaten but not disgraced. Good finish for Celtic's second goal. Unlucky at the end not to snatch a point. Hemming to be fair kept us in it with some excellent saves and Jamie Langfield is some goalkeeping coach.

Stubbs. Sorted.

Special mention to the Flynnesta today. Not started any games and hardly used as a sub all season and he starts today and provides a solid professional performance. Difficult to fill Strain's shoes but he performed well in defence and attack. Great call by the manager.

I believe that it was reported a couple of seasons ago that 40% of season ticket holders do not live in Paisley. Certainly from the guys that I go to games with that percentage would be higher. Only 1 out of 6 lives in Paisley now.

I do not know if many Buddies still stick to Paisley Fair for their holidays but I know a few regulars who couldn't attend due to being on holiday.