AndyDD

Not unexpected, but 1350 allocation is going to make it very difficult for anyone under 19 points to get a ticket.

Aye it really underlines just how poorly coached those same players must have been, on top of all the other garbage behind the scenes that you outline. Just not making an absolute hooring c**t of it every time they say or do something makes the new regime look like geniuses compared to the last lot. Leon McCann a decent example; he was a good player for us, but looked like he had regressed massively last season whilst playing for Falkirk. Now, he seems to be more like the player he was. It paints a clear picture of what was wrong. Indeed, for all Holt's recruitment has rightly been slated, clearly falkirk did recruit some decent players in that period; they just got coached so dreadfully that their ability was smothered and as you say, their belief exorcised. See it quite regularly. As @Diamonds02 points out, Frizzell was lambasted by Dumbarton supporters when we signed him, and he has been one of the best midfielders in the league the last two seasons. ATS has been the epitome of composure for Airdrie this season, to the point where it is obvious his issue last year was the same issue afflicting all the falkirk players; horrendous coaching and abysmal man-management.

So it was, haha aye hopefully! 20, 26 and 19. Good ages. If memory serves we had the youngest average squad age in the division last year, not sure how that shakes out this time but there does appear to be a decent enough mix now. Having some more experienced players like Telfer and McCabe on the bench along with the younger guys like Dixon, McGregor, Stanway and Byrd Byrd is a nice place to be in, too, as I know a few have pointed out previously.

Maybe aye, I think as well, there are I imagine several Falkirk players this year who look miles better than they did last season. Better coaching, a team and club in a better place, I think we maybe underestimate these factors. Ah, no, you're quite right, alas that was just me being an absolute melon.

Happens, I suppose. Adam Frizzell made ATS look a right clown last season in a game between the two sides, but the Antigua and Barbuda hall-of-famer has actually been really solid for us this season when he has played and has turned out to be a very good signing.

Good wee feature, that. Shame it didn't catch the third goal, granted, but even so, I like it. McMaster 20 today; I'm guessing we'll all be more than happy if the rumours of him being signed on permanently next year come to fruition right enough. Really has stepped up in this run, great to see. Long may it continue.

Ahh, Alegria. Thanks for that, brought to mind him decking it under no pressure in the 4-0 skudding earlier in the season. Chuckle. What a diddy.

That comparison of the last five fixtures for Airdrie and Falkirk covered games against 3 of the exact same teams, during which Falkirk managed two goals, conceding one. Airdrie beat the same teams, conceding twice, but scoring... fourteen. It's a pretty reasonable comparison to make, when it's 3 games against the same teams. If we had shat out a 0-0 with Clyde and a 0-0 with Kelty a week after they had been ridden rotten 5-1 and 6-1, I'd be less quick to dismiss that, myself. A narrow win on Tuesday should have Falkirk in a better place going into the match on Saturday, though, and they have a very strong home record this season. Far less fragility. Playoffs secured and miles off a title push, too, so that combined with finally getting back to winning ways will have eased a good bit of pressure.

Didn't realise most websites use 6, that's news to me. I always thought last 5 was pretty commonly used. BBC use it on their site for all league tables, and as @Duncan Freemason points out that also tends to be the way of it on betting sites as well, at least that I've ever used. Anyway; form is, of course, temporary. Everyone now caught up going into the final four fixtures. We're going to start seeing some things decided, and quickly. Dunfermline have strolled the title, but that (and the gap between 9th and 8th) aside, it really is a tasty wee run in.

Aye, that's about the size of it. Alloa likely to win their game at Kelty, but they've lost two back to back so, maybe not. Narrow win last night means Falkirk have confirmed they will be in the playoffs and finally got themselves a win after stumbling about for the last wee while. Presumably they'll have some confidence back. Both sides seem to try and start fast, so could be a bit of an erratic opening to the game. Might feel like a playoff dress rehearsal, but we're not quite there yet, so taking nothing for granted. Playoffs not technically wrapped up for us yet which means it's brilliant if we get three points, but especially brilliant if that coincides with QOS losing. If they and Alloa want to drop points in any event, that'd be fine and dandy. The first of a tough run of fixtures to finish up, but couldn't ask for much better form going into them. The players will rightly fancy themselves to create chances and if we're ruthless with the chances we do create, we'll win. Assuming we'll stick with the same side to start with, so another test for the young midfield but the back five have been solid of late; hopefully that continues. Big Josh missed the other three fixtures, which is an oddity.

When you look at the positive impact our subs made in the game, with Telfer, McGregor and Stanway all contributing to a strong finish to the match, it really does give you confidence for the remaining games. Telfer comes on and nearly scores, before playing the pass of the game for McGregor's third, after a relentless high energy performance from Justin D for the first hour and a bit. McGregor was more effective than we've seen him thus far, even before the goal, and the hope is he keeps getting better and keeps developing the longer he works with the coaches on the training park. It would take a really horrendous drop off to fail to finish in the playoff places now, and whilst winning runs always come to an end, the confidence is clearly sky-high, the whole squad seem to be loving it and the back five and front three in particular seem incredibly well settled. No reason we can't keep our excellent record in Grangemouth going. I don't see Montrose doing anything tonight in their game, mind you, so probably looking at a five point gap again before a ball is kicked on Saturday. If those good old Gable-Endies do get anything, though, it'd be an absolutely excellent opportunity to go 2nd.

Clyde 0-1 FC Edinburgh Dunfermline Athletic 2-0 Queen of the South Falkirk 0-1 Airdrieonians Kelty Hearts 0-1 Alloa Athletic Montrose 1-1 Peterhead

Must win for the visitors, really is their last chance to force a late push for the playoffs you'd think, so reason to be wary. Concentrate on ourselves, play to our capacity and it's there to be won, definitely. Fully expect the mentality to be spot on, they won't take it for granted and will go out to attack the game. 5 wins on the bounce would be outstanding.

Very true, both in the playoff semi during the covid season where we squeezed through, and most of last season, too, when Cove ended up worthy winners. I'm surprised it has been such a difficult transition for Cove when making the step up, but looks like losing Fyvie in particular has been huge, not to mention the summer loss of Milne. Selfishly I was hoping Accies wouldn't overcome Cove at this fairly late stage; I'd rather the team dropping into the playoffs had failed to finish 3rd bottom, rather than succeeded in escaping dead last. I think there's a significant psychological difference there. Must win for you now at the weekend, one imagines. Last chance saloon, d'you reckon? Thanks, hopefully we can get what we need in the remaining fixtures to clinch a playoff, and then you just take your chances from there.

For reasons of petty vengeance I'd relish the chance to go up at the expense of Cove, but it is looking very perilous for you at the moment. Accies no great shakes either, but 10th place must be looming large in your horizon. YUUGE game on Saturday between the two, and for all of us playoff contenders watching on.

Yeah another massive match because as you say, we maybe have the toughest last four fixtures out of the various runners and riders for the playoff spots? Games against top two then two matches against teams we've not managed to beat as yet this season. Win on Saturday and you kill off any lingering hopes Montrose have, but assuming Dunfermline win their match, you also go one point off second.. Much more importantly, a win on Saturday really pushes us that bit closer to securing a playoff berth. It won't seal it, not quite, but it would definitely put us in touching distance. As we've seen to our cost, where you land in 2nd-4th isn't all that definitive for playoff success. Just get there. And if we could get there before the final day visit to Meadowbank, that'd be just swell.

Start of the season I always think we're going to win it haha, but I do always look at top four as good, albeit I completely agree, with the retention we had and the strengthening we did, a title challenge did seem on, especially after that excellent start to the season. Losing Josh for as long as we did didn't help, and that sticky spell (plus you're bang on about losing the Dunfermline lead) put us back aways, but credit to Dunfermline, 1 defeat all season is even better than Cove managed last year. They have been very, very good. It's also interesting comparing the table to last year; Dunfermline look good to secure a similar points return as Cove (they might even better that 79 points mark) but second place will be well off our total of 72 last year, it would seem. Top two last year were miles in front, whereas Dunfermline are the only ones with that kind of comfortable gap this time. QP finished 4th on 51, which Alloa already have with 5 games still to play. It looks like a much more competitive division this season, at least from 8th place up. That we are right in amongst the playoffs, with a good chance of finishing third (second isnae exactly out of reach either...) is testament to the work done to retain the players we retained, recruit the others we recruited and the coaching and development throughout the season as well. Not counting any chickens yet though, probably a discussion we can have more fully come season end, but as things stand, have to be happy with how we are faring.

Hard to argue to be fair; their March didn't include a defeat, whereas ours did. Nothing settled yet of course, but a brilliant first season in management for Rhys thus far, all things considered.

Airdrieonians 3-0 Montrose Alloa Athletic 1-1 Queen of the South Falkirk 0-2 Dunfermline Athletic Kelty Hearts 0-0 Clyde Peterhead 0-1 FC Edinburgh

Very pleasing result, good to be able to win in a different manner as well, even if we really ought to be have 2 or 3 up at halftime. Alloa seemed incredibly blunt, lacking in creativity or real spark at the top end of the pitch considering their recent form. Josh Rae will have precious few easier days than that. Very routine catches and one safety-first tip over the bar for a header that in truth looked like it was headed for the crossbar. I'll forgive him the poor kickout; Alloa didn't have the guile or ability in their team to turn that into a goal, so no harm done. A strong showing across the back again and, even taking his excellent finish aside, Watson had a great afternoon. A really good period for the team who are looking nice and settled. I'd still have liked a touch more composure in the middle towards the end of the match, so would have subbed Rhys on to see things out (and he'd also have the killer pass in his locker to send someone in for a clincher), but hey ho, he must be enjoying watching on from the sidelines. And no wonder. Really good run, this. With QOS bang in form, Alloa have a fight on their hands to hold on to fourth. That could be a significant result either way next week between the two. Montrose look like they're about to be cut off in the last-chance saloon, with their hopes looking pretty remote at this point, so hopefully we keep the run going and push on with another big win. Apply ourselves properly and I fancy us to be comfortable again. Another clean sheet would be excellent too, but then I am greedy.

Here's hoping!

Nae huff from me, the club handed you the one rogue pie exactly as I planned... Enjoyed listening to the podcast, albeit raised my eyebrows a tad at the suggestion the Alloa squad is the stronger. Not convinced, but I suppose we shall see over the next 6 games. The form our forwards are in, indeed the form we're in across the whole pitch, I strongly fancy us to be a different animal than that which visited the recs the previous two times this season. Alloa have been excellent at home evidently, so this is a great test to start what looks quite a tasty run-in. Airdrie by a cupla goals.

Unless wee see a truly ungodly goal swing to Edinburgh, both teams will still be in the top four come fulltime regardless of result. Even so, a win for either side puts them that bit closer to sealing their playoff place and deal a psychological blow to a potential playoff opponent, too. Presumably going to be a harder task than the last three games, but more than capable of winning this. The team are in a much better place than the last time we visited, that's for sure.

We've had some cracking days and nights even in my time going to Scotland games (1-1 with Germany in the Vogts era kicked me off) but my word that was right up there amongst the absolute best of them all, in every respect; performance, atmosphere and result. Got back in the house shortly after 11 this morning and have done sweet f**k all else but watched and rewatched highlights, read reaction, scrolled through twitter, hell I even read Tom English's bumf. There was a real sense we could get something from this game but as gallus as I tried to play it, I did not envisage us snuffing them out so effectively. They really had that one spell within the game where they looked like they were going to overwhelm us but it seemed like getting to halftime killed that off. The second goal especially seemed to break what little spirit that incredibly unlikeable spanish side had about them. Rodri and his pals making exhibitions of themselves during and after the game was of course an added wee slice of delight on what was an already sumptuous treat. Dry yer eyes ya gonks. We absolutely merited that win and had we scored a third right at the death following Mcgregor's brilliant wee mazey, it would have been entirely deserved. Porteous would genuinely stick the but on an asteroid if it was making its way into the Scotland box. Guy is a sensation. Everyone was brilliant. Gunn had pretty much nothing to do most of the evening but f**k it, he was brilliant anawl. Tierney, Mcgregor, McTominay, Robertson, Christie, Hanley, Hickey, Dykes, even the subs, every single one of them, just outstanding. What a team we have, what a squad, and Clarke is an out and out genius. Guy behind me at the game, upon seeing just how high into the atmosphere the Spanish heeds had gone, declared him 'a genuine football terrorist'. His team fair terrorised the spanish into their meek white-hankey, piss-water display. Utterly pleasing on every level. Don't get carried away/we could still come a cropper against Georgia/Haaland could be back in June blah blah blah, we're getting out of this group, folks. With games to spare. Mass Ceilidh in Germany when we win the whole shebang. Heel toe here we go.

Alloa Athletic 0-2 Airdrieonians Clyde 1-1 Falkirk Dunfermline Athletic 2-0 Kelty Hearts FC Edinburgh 1-1 Montrose Queen of the South 2-0 Peterhead