Francesc Fabregas

It's good fun following Stenhousemuir at the moment. We're performing well in the division, playing some good football, and it feels like we're in with our best shot of winning a title since the 2005/06 season. But my favourite thing is the bond between the players and the supporters - after last night's match, Nicky Jamieson, Adam Brown, Gregor Buchanan, Mikey Anderson and Euan O'Reilly were in the Wee Bar with fans celebrating the result and talking about the game. They all seem like a great bunch of boys, always happy to have a chat, and it's a very endearing quality. Long may it continue! Also, Mr Naysmith, if you're reading this: sit down with Anderson and give the boy whatever he wants! What a player! Get him signed up now!

That really felt like a statement victory tonight. The first half was as good as I've seen us in some time and although we were under moderate pressure at points after the interval, it was a largely comfortable evening. It's not often you come away from beating the league leaders - who had won their previous six matches, by the way - complaining that you should have scored a couple more, but here we are. I really believe this side has what it takes to win the division and tonight confirmed it. Everyone played to a high standard today and everyone contributed something positive. The best player on the park was Mikey Anderson, again, whose passing, control and direct running saw us gain and advantage we would not relinquish. He opened the scoring, slamming Kinlay Bilham's low cross into the net, and then teed up Adam Brown for a goal-of-the-season contender. Anderson wasn't quite as dominant in the second half but always looked good in and out of possession. His improvement at the club has been extraordinary - one of the wretched "BSC lot" signed by Stephen Swift in the summer of 2021, there were points where he looked badly out of his depth in League 2, but he's blossomed over his two years to the point where he's the best midfielder in the division. It's credit to the player and to Gary Naysmith, who's entrusted him in the middle of the park, for his development. If it's not happening already, we really must look into extending his contract beyond the end of the season. Nicky Jamieson was also terrific at centre-back, heading away everything that came into his field of vision. As Peterhead ran out of ideas and lumped the ball forward, he was vital in making sure it never entered our penalty box. Jamieson was as important in the second half as Anderson was in the first. Brown's goal was breathtaking, the kind of thing you only ever see in a video game, and I can't wait to watch it back. He's another player who's flourishing in recent weeks. Ross Taylor's cameo was one of the most entertaining I can remember, and every single thing he did had you laughing. If only Matty Aitken had tucked away the chance at the death that began with Taylor slipping past two opponents on the flank! Everyone else's performance ranged from "very good" to "excellent"; it was a fun evening. Peterhead looked nippy in spells but never really threatened our goal. There were a couple of efforts on target, but they were straight at Darren Jamieson, and they created some mild consternation when they dribbled into our box, but these moments were fleeting, and Stenhousemuir withstood their moderate offence. By the end, all they had to offer was pumping the ball upfield in the hope Rory McAllister could knock something down for Kieran Shanks but it didn't happen; they could probably have played all evening without scoring. Joe McKee looked good, right enough, and his range of passing was always a danger. Let's hope this positive feeling continues and the team can take it to Stranraer on Saturday. Our record at Stair Park in recent years is not just poor, but we seem to reserve our very worst performances for Wigtown - Davie Irons' last match, some of Swift's dark days, our final visit there last season. If we can pick up three points here and finally put that crap run to bed, I fancy us a bit.

Sad to see the Carlo Pignatiello truthers have invaded this thread.

Is Michael Anderson the best central midfielder in League 2? Discuss.

Tomorrow's game is going to be enormous. It has the feeling of a title decider already. I can't wait!

That was one of the most complacent displays I've seen from Stenhousemuir in a long time. It was complacent all over the pitch - a lack of concentration and care at the back, a lack of aggression in the middle of the park, a lack of ruthlessness up front. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say we could have scored four times before the interval but the performance badly dipped after the restart; we didn't force Danny Gillan into a save. I think we underestimated how good a side Brora Rangers are. Look at Edin Lynch trying to dribble out from the back and losing possession, or Ross Meechan jogging after a ball over his head while the winger storms in on him. Kinlay Bilham shanked every set-piece out of play, Mark Ferrie contributed nothing and Marley Sweenie-Rowe looked like he was playing the game at 0.75 speed. I think only Euan O'Reilly can be happy with his performance but he dropped out of the game in the second half. Zak McKay looks like he has something about him, right enough. I think that's the angriest I've been at the football in a long time. I can handle losing but I don't want to see good players half-arsing their way through a Scottish Cup tie against presentable opposition. Some of these lads need to buck up their ideas!

As always, this is a polite reminder to watch A View from the Terrace tonight - it's on @ 10:30pm on the BBC Scotland channel and I think you'll really like it. This evening's show almost exclusively focuses on the Scotland national team - how we qualified for Euro 2024 and the laughs we had along the way. There's also an interview with Christophe Berra about bringing through the next generation of superstars - it's not to be missed! Many thanks.

LOC Hire have been very generous to the club in recent years. Please show them some respect!

The excitement for this one is palpable! Give the poor weather, is the game in doubt at all? What's the weather like in FK5?

Stenhousemuir FC have signed former Rangers youngster Zak McKay on a short-team deal. The 18-year-old attacker, who can operate on the left or the right flank, has joined the club until January. This is a pretty smart piece of business - with Ross Taylor missing for a couple of months, we need cover on the flanks, so hopefully McKay can do us a good turn.

The biggest game in League 2 this week sees third-place Stenhousemuir welcoming the league leaders, Peterhead, to Ochilview. Despite the teams playing out a sterile 0-0 draw earlier in the season, I've got high hopes for this match. Both sides have started the campaign well, the visitors especially - after their dismal time of it last year, I thought the club would be looking to consolidate and aim for mid-table finish, but they're performing well above my expectations. Jordan Brown and Ryan Strachan have signed well across the park, especially in attack where Kieran Shanks and Rory McAllister look like they've formed a good understanding already. As for Stenhousemuir, this will be our first competitive game in three weeks, and I hope the players are well rested and raring to go. It feels like ages since we last played - a 2-2 draw against Clyde, where we looked both good and bad. Play like we did in the first half and we'll do well; perform like we did after the interval and we could be on for a tanking. I assume everyone other than Ross Taylor is available for the weekend's game? Let's go with: - Matty Aitken - - Euan O'Reilly - Matty Yates - Adam Brown - - Mikey Anderson - Nat Wedderburn - - Kinlay Bilham - Gregor Buchanan - Nicky Jamieson - Ross Meechan - - Darren Jamieson - We've got a very decent record against Peterhead over the past couple of years and I'd fancy it to continue here. I don't think it's a "must-win" fixture for Stenhousemuir but if we lose, we're seven points behind already. It's certainly not insurmountable but it doesn't look favourable. Either way - I'll see you all there!

This is a very polite reminder that A View from the Terrace is your television this evening - tune in @ 10:30pm to the BBC Scotland channel for some world-class conversation and barbed banter about the beautiful (and sometimes not-so-beautiful!) game we all know and love.

Stenhousemuir FC had spoken with the SPFL to request the match was rearranged for this weekend - both teams are out of the SPFL Trust Trophy - but Elgin City denied it. It's frustrating on our part, because this will mean we'll have to travel up on a Tuesday night, but I can kind of understand it from Elgin's perspective. They're down to the bare bones and they be grateful of the time off. Nevertheless - deeply annoying.

I'm delighted to see Adam Corbett scoring and assisting today! How's he been since he joined Kelty Hearts?

Fair play to Gary Naysmith and Gregor Buchanan for their respective Manager and Player of the Month awards. Ten points from 12 is a terrific return, and the 5-0 win over Stranraer is the best performance the team turned in in years. The second half against Clyde was a little deflating but, on the whole, we're in a good place! Long may it continue!

Hello, this is a polite reminder that A View from the Terrace is on television tonight @ 10:30pm on the BBC Scotland channel. This evening's episode should be "a good laugh" and features an in-depth interview with St Mirren's Chief Operating Officer, Mr Keith Lasley. One for the lads! And the lassies! I hope you can join us. Thank you.

Up next, bottom side Elgin City welcome Stenhousemuir to round off the first quarter in what could be an entertaining encounter. The home side were thrashed by Peterhead last time out, going down 6-0, while the Warriors chucked away a two-goal against Clyde and were lucky to pick up a point at the end. I'm finding this one difficult to call - given Elgin's travails so far, Stenny will probably go into this one as favourites but after last week's collapse, plus their mediocre record at Borough Briggs, I'm not so sure now. If I was Gary Naysmith, I'd bring Kinlay Bilham in at left-back to replace Edin Lynch - Lynch performed well enough at Bonnyrigg Rose but was shown up against the Bully Wee, and a natural full-back should be selected here instead. I can't think of any other obvious alterations; the squad just isn't large enough to facilitate any wholesale changes. I'm hoping for better from Matty Aitken this time out. One of the reasons we were on the back foot against Clyde for so long was because nothing was sticking up top, and he needs to put himself about a bit more by actually challenging for headers. Other than Ross Taylor, who'll be out for two months with a shoulder injury, I think we're at full strength? - Matty Aitken - - Euan O'Reilly - Matty Yates - Adam Brown - - Mikey Anderson - Nat Wedderburn - - Kinlay Bilham - Nicky Jamieson - Gregor Buchanan - Ross Meechan - - Darren Jamieson - As for Elgin, they're obviously not a very good side, and there's a real feeling of managed decline at the club just now, but they did beat Dumbarton quite handily and they can do the same to us if we're not careful. I won't be able to make this game (work commitments on Saturday morning) but I'm going for a cautious away win here. One goal from a set-piece, something like that.

A real "game of two halves". I thought Stenhousemuir were very good over the first 45 minutes and probably should have gone into the break a couple of goals up; indeed, when Matty Yates netted the second shortly after the interval, it felt as though a drubbing was on the cards. But Clyde rallied and grew into the match, scoring two fortunate goals, and could even have won it when Martin Rennie inexplicably blasted over the ball from six yards. In the end, the home side were holding on. Over the piece, a draw was the fairest outcome. Players who starred for Stenny in the first half - Mikey Anderson, Adam Brown - disappeared in the second and we could not get a grip on the game. Matty Aitken turned in a frustrating shift while Mark Ferrie, making his debut late on, made no impact at all. Edin Lynch was poor at left-back and was often on the back foot - his selection made sense at New Dundas Park last weekend, where he was able to kick and head the ball against Bonnyrigg Rose's assortment of hammer throwers, but he looked exposed here and I think Clyde targeted him through Kian Leslie. His own goal was poor but I don't understand why Darren Jamieson didn't come to claim the cross. It was floated into the six-yard box and there to be collected! We lost our composure after going two up. Jack Leighfield was excellent for Clyde, making a couple of excellent saves in the first half and one from Aitken early in the second. I was surprised to see Darren Whyte start in the middle of the park and after a difficult first half, he was central to Clyde's emergence after the restart. Rennie had a good game up top and Leslie could become a useful player if he can add an end product to his dribbles. It's abundantly clear the team have improved from the first weeks of the campaign and if they can build on their second-half performance, they should avoid bottom. I think that's a bit of a reality check for Stenhousemuir. It's exposed the depth of our squad and how limited we look when we're relying on going long to Aitken. We're playing Elgin City next weekend - it's a straightforward assignment on paper but it's kind of fixture we might come a cropper in.

Stenhousemuir FC have signed Mark Ferrie on loan from Motherwell until January. The 17-year-old striker, who's already played in the Premiership for his parent club this seaosn, will go straight into the squad for tomorrow's match with Clyde. According to the club website, Gary Naysmith had been tracking him for some time but it's only now he's been able to conclude the deal. We've needed a striker to compete alongside Matty Aitken for some time now and I'm really keen to see what Ferrie can do. If he's as good as the last Mark Ferry we had at the club, he'll be a superstar!

I've just watched back the match highlights and the referee was right not to award Bonnyrigg Rose a penalty at the death. Dean Watson was just on the edge of the box when Nicky Jamieson fouled him. It's tight, and I can understand why the home support were unhappy with the decision, but it's the correct one!

Stenhousemuir have been drawn at home to Brora Rangers in the Scottish Cup second round. We've met them once before, back in a Challenge Cup tie in 2014, where Scott Booth's side were defeated 3-1 in extra time. I don't think Brora are quite the force they once were a couple of years ago and this should give us a decent chance to progress to the next round. I'll see you all there!

An intriguing encounter awaits as top-of-the-table Stenhousemuir welcome 10th-place Clyde to Ochilview on Saturday. On paper, it seems like a straightforward assignment for the Warriors but Clyde should be buoyed by their win over Elgin City yesterday. That match seemed like a six-pointer, even at this early stage, and it's brought them back into contention with the sides around them. I'm confident but I'm also cautious. Stenhousemuir are enjoying a strong run of form with three consecutive wins. We're also defensively sound, keeping six clean sheets in their seven league matches. The team are hard-working and physical and capable of playing some decent football from time to time. There are strong players across the park and Clyde will need to be at their best to take something from the game. It'll be interesting to see how Gary Naysmith sets up his team. It'll require something different to the match at Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic and I think Kinly Bilham might be restored to the starting XI at the expense of Edin Lynch. Lynch put in a solid shift at New Dundas Park but the circumstances here are different and Bilham will allow us to play on the front foot. Ross Taylor is likely to be missing for a couple of weeks and it's disappointing we won't have his pace and directness here. Matty Yates take his place with the team shuffled round accordingly. Let's go with: - Matty Aitken - - Euan O'Reilly - Matty Yates - Adam Brown - - Mikey Anderson - Nat Wedderburn - - Kinlay Bilham - Nicky Jamieson - Gregor Buchanan - Ross Meechan - - Darren Jamieson - Clyde seem like a bit of a rag-tag bunch. A handful of experienced, past-their-best SPFL campaigners mixed with some teenagers doesn't really inspire confidence. I predicted they'd struggle this season and, from watching most of their match highlights back, I haven't seen anything to suggest otherwise. I do expect them to bring a decent crowd with them - and fair play, they always travel well - and I expect Stenny to get the three points here. I'd be very disappointed with any other outcome.

Aye, Neilly's summed it up well. It was a terrible game of football - the ball must have spent as much time up in the air as it did on the deck - but you know what you're going to get when you're taking on Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic at New Dundas Park. They're a tough side and you're in for a horrid 90 minutes but if you're prepared to dig in, fight and battle, you give yourself a chance. There's a lot of character in this team and they showed the resilience and robustness to get the job done. Our best players were our goalkeeper and back four. Darren Jamieson took a couple of set-pieces superbly and that confidence and that aura spreads throughout the team and into the stands. Nicky Jamieson was my man of the match, with Zander Murray and Alieu Faye barely getting close to him, while Gregor Buchanan dealt with everything that came his way. Ross Meechan had his strongest game since returning to the club and Edin Lynch deserves a special mention - his goal, a thumping header from an Adam Brown corner, was the only real moment of quality and ultimately proved decisive. I don't particularly rate him but there's something endearing about Lynch and he's done us a decent turn whenever he's featured. Everyone else dug in and did what was required of them. I don't think anyone necessarily played well but they all made sure we got the win. It's probably worth noting that we might have had a couple of refereeing decisions go in our favour. In his post-match interview, Gary Naysmith didn't think we should have been awarded the corner from which we scored, and Bonnyrigg might have won a penalty kick at the death when Dean Watson was fouled; Watson may or may not have been inside the box when Nicky Jamieson had a nibble at him. A couple of people associated with the home side - both of whom are deeply bald - seemed unhappy at the end - one director shouted at his counterparts across the walkway to the changing rooms, while a Bonnyrigg player entered the away dressing room to complain about the loud music. Bonnyrigg are a better team than they were 12 months ago and they look fitter and more mobile but, based on yesterday's game, I'm surprised they've started the season as well as they have. it's not a lot of fun to watch. Faye was especially poor and might be the worst player I've seen at this level for some time. He reminds me of El Gigante from WCW - an attraction who simply cannot work. He should have been substituted long before the 77th minute. Nevertheless, we're sitting at the top of the table and we've kept six clean sheers in seven matches, an impressive return. There's a good feeling around the team at the moment - the players' reactions coming off the pitch at the end showed how much the win meant to them - and I hope we can keep it going. We're playing two of the "easier" teams in the division next but we cannot take anything for granted. Ross Taylor's probably missing until November and that'll stretch our small squad. But hey! Let's enjoy ourselves for the time being.

Yes, that was a stinking game of football between two poor teams, briefly lit up by a mishit cross. I'm surprised you're keen to return! The only time we've looked reasonably handy against Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic was the first meeting between the sides where we played very well in the first half and scored twice. The other three-and-a-half matches have been absolute toot.

This is the big one: a top-of-the-table clash in Midlothian between Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic and Stenhousemuir! H*ck yes! I'm really excited for the weekend's match - how could you not be after watching your team win 5-0 last time out? - and I hope we can build on it and take that spirit into this encounter. I also hope we can continue our good form at New Dundas Park, a ground we won at twice last season. Will the match be any good? Probably not - the games between Bonnyrigg and Stenny were mostly brutal, listless affairs, and I'd expect this to be the same. The ball will spend more time in the air than on the ground and set-pieces, territory and percentages will be vital for both sides. I've been surprised with the Rose this season. I wasn't too impressed with their transfer business (I thought they held onto too many of the cloggers that stunk out the joint last term) but the team looks better, fitter and more equipped for the year ahead. Signing up Paddy Martin on a permanent basis was tremendous and Smart Osadolor has proven to be a good signing, while Josh Grigor continues to improve at the back. Robbie Horn seems like a good egg and I'm pleased to see him doing well. We'll be in for a game, that's for sure. Stenhousemuir should stick with the same XI that demolished Stranraer on Saturday. Everyone played to a good standard and the confidence must be high; it would be daft to break it up. Nicky Jamieson will be available after completing his suspension but Edin Lynch deserves to continue at centre-back. He did well against Stranraer and should keep his place for the time being. My only concern (and this is something Gary Naysmith picked up on in his post-match interview) is Ross Taylor's discipline - he can be a little reckless and that needs to be curbed because it could cost us. I wonder if the former Edinburgh City midfielder we have on trial will be brought into the fold for this one? Nevertheless, let's go with: - Matty Aitken - - Adam Brown - Matty Yates - Ross Taylor - - Mikey Anderson - Nat Wedderburn - - Kinlay Bilham - Edin Lynch - Gregor Buchanan - Ross Meechan - - Darren Jamieson - I'm expecting a very difficult match here but we're better now than we were last season and with players like Darren Jamieson, Buchanan and Meechan, we have players with the fortitude to stand up to Bonnyrigg's big lads. Whatever the outcome, it'll be a hard-won affair. I'm looking forward to it.