Moving McMullan more central was a bad idea I feel. He was causing problems out wide and as soon as he was moved inside we just went flat. Connolly was walking a tightrope was he no? So annoying just watching him lump ball after ball to nowhere then it comes straight back. Defensively he’s pretty sound but we need a Petric or Narey type who can actually pass the ball if we are to progress- no matter where we are next year.

St. Mirren were happy to let Connolly have the ball in the 2nd half. We should have had an out ball rather than let him punt it.
Hope we go with Safranko for Sow and Booth for Pawlett from the start on Sunday...

Tek wrote:

I'm like Billy Hainey. A bit disappointed and deflated after tonight.

It's not a fatal score line by any means and Sunday is now a 'winner takes all' one off Cup Final.

But everything had been very positive since the Caley away win and it felt like we were building up to a win tonight and possibly a good one. So to not get that and to see us huffing and puffing a bit and generally struggling to penetrate the St.Mirren back line. Well, it was a bit anti-climactical (that even a word?)

I'm not sure Neilson knows what to do with Safranko, Clark, Sow and McMullan. As in he just can't decide who's the best pairing. Sow continues to be an enigma for me. One minute he looks a clever player. His dummy to put McMullan 'one on one' for example was an intelligent bit of play. But at other points in the match he looks slow, awkward and cumbersome. The strange thing is though, I felt we actually got worse after he was subbed off. 

There was no real failures tonight. I guess it was just 'one of those nights'. We need to play better on Sunday though. And I think (and hope) we will.

One last thing. Not sure what Peter Pawlett brings to the party i'm afraid. Offers little and has been just as disappointing a signing as Sow for me.

 

Spot on 're the 4. I think it's obvious. Play 4-2- McMullan/Clark/Safranko - Sow. Get Pawlett away to fuck.
Attack FFS. Best form of defence.

From last night, fantastic effort from the display team:

Finn Seemann wrote:

It's finely balanced - I knew we wouldn't win the tie last night although a lead would have been nice.  St Mirren are a step up from what we've been playing to be honest, but I thought that we looked more like their level than the level we have been playing at.
Sunday will be very difficult, but if we can keep it tight defensively, which is pretty much where we are now then I think we have the players up top to sneak the win.  Contrary to comments on here, I think Sow is slowly improving every game I see him.  He undoubtedly causes defences issues with his presence.  When he starts doing that with his footballing ability he'll be an asset.  Never thought I would say this, but I'd start him on Sunday alongside Pavol with Clark to come off the bench.  Keep McMullan out wide.
 

 

Agree about Sow, don’t think he was nearly as bad as a lot of folk are saying.  I’d start him with Pav on Sunday.

Tek wrote:

I'm like Billy Hainey. A bit disappointed and deflated after tonight.

It's not a fatal score line by any means and Sunday is now a 'winner takes all' one off Cup Final.

But everything had been very positive since the Caley away win and it felt like we were building up to a win tonight and possibly a good one. So to not get that and to see us huffing and puffing a bit and generally struggling to penetrate the St.Mirren back line. Well, it was a bit anti-climactical (that even a word?)

I'm not sure Neilson knows what to do with Safranko, Clark, Sow and McMullan. As in he just can't decide who's the best pairing. Sow continues to be an enigma for me. One minute he looks a clever player. His dummy to put McMullan 'one on one' for example was an intelligent bit of play. But at other points in the match he looks slow, awkward and cumbersome. The strange thing is though, I felt we actually got worse after he was subbed off. 

There was no real failures tonight. I guess it was just 'one of those nights'. We need to play better on Sunday though. And I think (and hope) we will.

One last thing. Not sure what Peter Pawlett brings to the party i'm afraid. Offers little and has been just as disappointing a signing as Sow for me.

I would start Booth over Pawlett on Sunday. More defensive cover and as a two going up the left, booth and Robson created as much as Pawlett did last night.

I think we changed our style when Sow went off and just aimlessly lumped balls at Pav up against 3 huge centre backs which gives him no chance.

We also brought Stanton on soon after and, although Clark was poor, Stanton offers absolutely nothing and it felt like we were playing with 10 men after that.

I don’t really understand what Stanton is now though. He doesn’t have the technical ability to play as a 10 but he is too lightweight and doesn’t put himself about enough to play as part of the two in midfield.

Although Bouhenna was fairly solid again (although was possibly lucky not to be sent off), I think we really missed Butcher. If we had Butcher would could move Bouhenna into centre half and get that donkey Connolly out. Connolly loses most of his headers, can’t use the ball when it’s at his feet and in every big game looks like a red card waiting to happen.