Ross County vs. Saints 03/03/07

[Nairn Saint]

"Home" game for me this weekend and I've wangled a corporate ticket for the game! Last time that happened Saints went 3:0 up and I was threatened with being removed for going mental amoung the suited locals! Four of their number were ejected after taking exception to my "celebrations" when the third went in.

Big game! Can we get back focused on the small matter of catching Gr£tna?

[Radford 72]

Wednesday games always present a problem as we have so little time to prepare for this.

At least OC has the option of fresh legs in the shape of McInnes, Ando, Morais and even Lilley. Hope everyone came through last night unscathed though.

We were superb up there in November but somehow only got a point. If we play like that, and like we did last night, we will win so it's up to OC and players to repeat that level of performance.

We need to start clocking up these away wins though if we are to catch Gretna.

[Hazel1884]

Looking forward to this game now and plead to everyone who can make it to go. Give the team the backing they deserve and enjoy a fantastic day out at the same time.

Expect it to be pretty much the same team as Wednesday night and they will be well rested over the next few days i am sure.

Cuthbert

Lawrie James Ando/McManus Stanic

McLaren Hardie Mensing Sheerin

Scotland MacDonald

Think a lot will depend on McManus' fitness and how Peaso recovers - he ran himself into the ground last night. Dingwall has always been a sticky place for us to go to so hopefully the travelling on the Fri rather than the Sat will benefit us. County are a youthful, quick team too so we will have to be on our game.

Fancy dress too!! 8) Keep the Faith.

[Nairn Saint]

What price a one nil away win?

[templeofsaints]

Looking forward to this game now and plead to everyone who can make it to go. Give the team the backing they deserve and enjoy a fantastic day out at the same time.

Expect it to be pretty much the same team as Wednesday night and they will be well rested over the next few days i am sure.

Cuthbert

Lawrie James Ando/McManus Stanic

McLaren Hardie Mensing Sheerin

Scotland MacDonald

Think a lot will depend on McManus' fitness and how Peaso recovers - he ran himself into the ground last night. Dingwall has always been a sticky place for us to go to so hopefully the travelling on the Fri rather than the Sat will benefit us. County are a youthful, quick team too so we will have to be on our game.

Fancy dress too!! 8) Keep the Faith.

Hardie is suspended so I'd expect McInnes to be the straightforward replacement in midfield.

[Radford 72]

Hardie is suspended so I'd expect McInnes to be the straightforward replacement in midfield.
I too expect McInnes to replace Hardie and although Mensing and McInnes in the centre looks negative, both players like playing high up the pitch and Bill Mac drifted in to the centre well on occasion on Wednesday night.

McManus could possibly be rested with a heavy run of games coming up and I wouldn't be surprised to see Savo left out as well so the bench will, IMO, look along the lines of Halliwell, Morais, Anderson, Lilley, Jackson.

[Saintkev]

'Mon The Saints!

[Cagey]

Will be difficult for Saints to raise their game again after wednesday but I think they know that every game between now & the end of the season are all cup ties.

[HertsSaintee]

but I think they know that every game between now & the end of the season are all cup ties.

They feckin better. :***:

Our tails are up, the management and players know exactly what is required from now to the end of the season to overhaul Gretna in the league, and I think we will win convincingly tomorrow. I can see Queens taking a result away from Raydale tomorrow too.

Herts

[MUZZ]

gutted i cant make it. well want to go but shit happens. hope we dont do our usual and lose after a big midweek result.
COME ON YE SAINTS

[Radford 72]

I can see Queens taking a result away from Raydale tomorrow too.
That would worry me ahead of Tuesday though, especially with their good home record. I'd be content to just maintain the 10-point gap this weekend and Queens to get a good tanking to soften them up for Tuesday.

[Watty]

I can see Queens taking a result away from Raydale tomorrow too.
That would worry me ahead of Tuesday though, especially with their good home record. I'd be content to just maintain the 10-point gap this weekend and Queens to get a good tanking to soften them up for Tuesday.

I dunno if advocating a Gretna victory at any stage between now and the and of April is the way to go. Come on the Doonhammers.

[Radford 72]

I dunno if advocating a Gretna victory at any stage between now and the and of April is the way to go. Come on the Doonhammers.
Certainly not praying they win just pointing out there is a silver lining this weekend as a Queens side on the back of beating Gretna (when the aggregate score currently stands at 12-0 to the Raydale Park team) would be a tricky proposition for us.

Big Mad Mental was on Radio Scotland earlier (as was Mrs St Johnstone last night!) and was giving out positive vibes, saying the players believe they are the best team in the league and we need to learn to cope with First Division teams pressing us like we do SPL sides.

[Nairn Saint]

I think Ross County will play it fairly tight tomorrow, certainly for the first part of the game. Saints could get a lot of early possession with County sitting in and trying to catch us on the break. This is a critical game for them as they struggle against relegation. They fancy their chances after Saints efforts during the week and will be up for the game. The first goal, if indeed there are any, could well prove decisive.

As I asked earlier, what price a one nil Saints win?

[Radford 72]

I think Ross County will play it fairly tight tomorrow, certainly for the first part of the game. Saints could get a lot of early possession with County sitting in and trying to catch us on the break. This is a critical game for them as they struggle against relegation. They fancy their chances after Saints efforts during the week and will be up for the game. The first goal, if indeed there are any, could well prove decisive.

As I asked earlier, what price a one nil Saints win?
I'd usually agree about the first goal but we've scored it in three of our last six away games and not won any of them. Obviously it's a benefit to get it though!

Best price on a 1-0 win for Saints is 7/1 @ Stan James and Ladbrokes.

[Nairn Saint]

I think Ross County will play it fairly tight tomorrow, certainly for the first part of the game. Saints could get a lot of early possession with County sitting in and trying to catch us on the break. This is a critical game for them as they struggle against relegation. They fancy their chances after Saints efforts during the week and will be up for the game. The first goal, if indeed there are any, could well prove decisive.

As I asked earlier, what price a one nil Saints win?
I'd usually agree about the first goal but we've scored it in three of our last six away games and not won any of them. Obviously it's a benefit to get it though!

Best price on a 1-0 win for Saints is 7/1 @ Stan James and Ladbrokes.

I thank you.

[Dunfermline Saint]

Don't think it belongs in this topic but you might see me tomorrow in the world renowned sparkly t-shirt!!! Going as a straight Graham Norton....honest!!!

[Ronaldo]

It'll be interesting to see the starting team lineup today.
We should have beat them up there last time, so let's do it properly this time.

C'MON SAINTS!

[Tranmere Saintee]

Don't think it belongs in this topic but you might see me tomorrow in the world renowned sparkly t-shirt!!! Going as a straight Graham Norton....honest!!!

I can guarantee you wont feel out it :roll: :***:

[Ronaldo]

There will be somebody going as Lawrence Of Arabia.

[saint_markperth]

can't afford to go to this one, to many wins in the cup are leaving me skint. On you go tho lads

[Broggy Man]

I wonder if OC will see this as the opertunity to play the two wingers. Hold the center as they will undoubtably hit us on the break and play two wingers in an attempt to break them down. just a thought

[Radford 72]

I wonder if OC will see this as the opertunity to play the two wingers. Hold the center as they will undoubtably hit us on the break and play two wingers in an attempt to break them down. just a thought
Only if he drops Lawrie as it's already been confirmed Sheerin will make his 75th consecutive start for Saints today. I can't see OC shifting Mensing after his performance on Wednesday though.

[Broggy Man]

I wonder if OC will see this as the opertunity to play the two wingers. Hold the center as they will undoubtably hit us on the break and play two wingers in an attempt to break them down. just a thought
Only if he drops Lawrie as it's already been confirmed Sheerin will make his 75th consecutive start for Saints today. I can't see OC shifting Mensing after his performance on Wednesday though.
Just a thought Radford we always have trouble breaking teams down then get caught by the sucker punch

[kieron24_9]

official team according to the sky sports website:-

1. kevin cuthbert
2. andy lawrie
3.goran stanic
4. simon mensng
5. allan mcmanus
6. kevin james
7. willie mclaren
8. derek mcinnes
9. peter macdonald
10. jason scotland
11. paul sheerin

and the subbies are----- 17.steven milne.... 13.derek lilley....12.fillipe morais... 14. steven anderson.....15.bryn haliwell

looking good i think 3-0 saints ;)

[saint_markperth]

1-0 saints peaso

[a monkey]

Get in! Great start

'mon saints!!

[emptyheed]

PROUD TO
PROUD TO BE
PROUD TO BE A SAINTIE!

knew i should have gone...

[saint_markperth]

3-0 clyde
1-0 livvy
gretna 0-0
2-0 hamilton

[saint_markperth]

dobbie 1-0 qos

[Watty]

come on the dobbinator!!!

[The Real Saints]

DOBBIE TO THE RESCUE! :D

[blueheaven]

OOH, The Dobster! Saints legend - fact.

[free the bees]

come on the dobbinator!!!

dont be saying that on tuesday :P

[saint_markperth]

half time at gretna

if dundee get beat they will go down to 7th in the league, with clyde and hamilton winning

[saint_markperth]

saints game half time

[SlickDT]

Just shows Coyle had a plan with Dobbie the whole time!!!!

[McCallum]

At the moment the live league table is looking good for Saints. If the scores stay the same and we win our games in hand we will be 1 point behind still to play Gretna. Game on. County will probs equalise in injury time though!

[Broggy Man]

Just shows Coyle had a plan with Dobbie the whole time!!!! :***: :***: :***: Lets just hope is plan doesnt come back and bite us

[Finners]

County will probs equalise in injury time though!
Like Motherwell :wink:

[inex]

Just shows Coyle had a plan with Dobbie the whole time!!!!

:***: :***: :***: :***:

He is in a scoring frenzy at the moment. On Fire!!! :!: :!:

Gretna down and Saints up with a goal to Peaso.

2 more to come from Scotland and Morais. :wink:

[Broggy Man]

Raith 4-1 up been an ex saint goal fest

[Rodgers]

forfar 2-2 brechin

kevin mooon with the 2nd for forfar - well done son :wink:

[Broggy Man]

mooooooooooooooner for forfar 2-2

[The Real Saints]

Scotland off for Lilley - possible injury? :(

[saint_markperth]

no thats oc's 60 min subbie
i predict another one at 70-75 mins and then one in the last 5 mins

[saint_markperth]

dundee with another dodgy pen

[Broggy Man]

Looks like we are not killing the other team off again :roll:

[saint_markperth]

anyone else fearing a last min goal for them?

[a monkey]

morais on for mclaren
65 mins

[malcolm]

time for the second and we can all relax

[Watty]

PISH!

[Rodgers]

1-1 :(

[Rodgers]

1-1 :(

[saint_markperth]

higgins is a wank

[Broon]

This last 10 mins will test our bottle to win the league

[Broggy Man]

we all new it was coming

[Scobby_SJFC]

Was looking too good to be true!

[saint_markperth]

we are throwing the league away here. we gain 1 point but they are about 20 goals ahead of us on goal difference

[McCallum]

County will probs equalise in injury time though!
Like Motherwell :wink:

:wink:
As soon as I saw Higgins had been brought on it was inevitable he would score.

[dhs]

Nooo.. my day was going great till that twat scored!

[saint_markperth]

soap dodgers are winning 2-1

[slambrother]

come on saints! agree with other key 10 minutes for our title challenge

[Broggy Man]

whats the beting on gretna getting the goal

[a monkey]

whats the beting on gretna getting the goal

that was going through my head as well.

we NEED to stop this happening. learn to kill them off saints!

[Watty]

2 nil QUEENS!!

[saint_markperth]

dobber 2-0

[Chansey]

....this is why i HATE not being at the game!

mon the saints!

[saint_markperth]

3-0 qos

[Watty]

that isnae doing thier goal diff any good!! and we have thistle to play twice which will wipe out their advantage!

Come on last minute winner to make by fookin day.

[saint_markperth]

full time @ gretna

[saint_markperth]

come on

[saint_markperth]

ft now 1-1

[Broggy Man]

oh well one down ten to go :shock:

[Broon]

Still a point closer - can't really argue as I didn't expect Gretna to lose at all.

[a monkey]

failed to capitalise on gretna losing yet again.
we need to learn that a 1 goal lead is just not enough.

[Calinho]

Unfortunatly about this is QOS will be extremely confident going into the midweek tie

[HertsSaintee]

Unbelievable. :evil:

Blown it AGAIN - I can't understand it, but really, some serious mentality work needs to be done with our players. Seriously, Coyle wants to get some sort of motivational coach in NOW to work with them. Otherwise how willl we all feel if Gretna stumble over the finish line when we've had umpteen chances to cut the deficit???

Herts

[slambrother]

totally ridiculous how time and time again we blow these golden opportunities.

Even Gretna fans on their forum fully acknowledge that we are the best team in the division but this means nothing with an away record that is one of the worst in the league, very dissapointing :evil:

[Chansey]

Unfortunatly about this is QOS will be extremely confident going into the midweek tie

I think this is a good thing....hopefully queens fancy thier chances and in their situation, battling relegation and at home, will come at us, allowing us to play. rather than sit back at make us break them out, which we can never really do successfully. Another thing is when we go ahead we tend to sit back, rather than attack for aanother time and time again this has cost us victories, i don't know if this was the case today, but i would put money on it being so.

[HertsSaintee]

Another thing is when we go ahead we tend to sit back, rather than attack for aanother time and time again this has cost us victories, i don't know if this was the case today, but i would put money on it being so.

Hear what you're saying Rory, but that's exactly what we DIDN'T do on Wednesday, and against the likes of Falkirk. It's totally baffling.

Herts

[Rossi the Sailor]

not again lost out on points and which away game record effect us, and our last away won game is partick t which we won 5-1 and it away bk in sept 9th!!! which we not won away game since in league

a joke!!!!!

[Thomas_sjfc]

Once again gretna drop points and we go and f*** it up what is going on. Perhaps its time to stop going overboard with credit for the players when they get a good result

[McEwan1884]

Absolutly rubbish!

[Chansey]

Another thing is when we go ahead we tend to sit back, rather than attack for aanother time and time again this has cost us victories, i don't know if this was the case today, but i would put money on it being so.

Hear what you're saying Rory, but that's exactly what we DIDN'T do on Wednesday, and against the likes of Falkirk. It's totally baffling.

Herts

and thats exactly my point, when we don't sit back we seem to manage to pull through, and get the results. Its frustrating to say the least.

[Scobby_SJFC]

Calm down guys we drew!!
bit doom and gloom on here, we're getting closer not further away, sure we could be closer, but I think we have more to be optimistic about that down!
Lets get behind the boys and 3 points in dumfries!

[Invernessaint]

It was really poor game today - Ross County were once again there for the taking but came into the game in the last 25 mins and to be honest we looked as if we would take nothing from this game during this period. However, still made a couple of last minute chances with Lilley missing a sitter in injury time! Jason very poor today but he injured himself in the warm up which might explain why he was subbed after half time. Interesting to note that County scored against us when James was off injured and getting treatment. Although he was coming on to the pitch he did not make it into the penalty box in time. He was marshalling the defence all day superbly but just shows you how much influence he has! Pass marks today for Peaso, McManus, Cuthbert, McLaren, Stanic - "normal service resumed" sums up the others. McInnes particularly poor and lucky not to be sent off. Still its a point gained I suppose but dont fancy our chances in Dumfries!

[staggie ed]

Just wanted to say a big thank you to all the saints fans who put money into the 'SAVE OUR STAGGIES' buckets.Having met many fans from opposing teams I see that club loyalties can be set aside when a club needs help.Quite a few of your fans put money into my bucket today.You did have quite a few dressed up which was amusing to see,a pink crocodile,spiderman and a number of pink ladies,some of those ladies gave me money.Thanks to you all.I hope you all had a safe journey home.Ed

[Broggy Man]

To be honest we have now been there twice this season and we have not beaten them. i said in the pre match section that today of all days we should have went with two wingers and stiffened the middle to stop breakaways we new that is how they would play it. I know it is difficult to drop players who di so well midweek but hey OC said it is gonna be a tough two weeks and it should have been a different set up today.

[MUZZ]

missed the game but we've got to positive that we've trimmed the lead down a small bit.

[SaintSam1884]

What happened to Jason Scotland? Was he injured?

[Radford 72]

What happened to Jason Scotland? Was he injured?
Only reason I can come up with for such a poor showing. We got what we deserved. A very poor performance from Saints.

[Nairn Saint]

I saw just how influential Kevin James is when, as Inverness Saint described, we were mugged, when they scored as he was coming back into play. I was surprised one of our players didn't stand in front of the ball to stop the free kick being taken until he was back on. Perhaps that would rightly be a yellow card for unsporting behaviour which I don't condone, but the rule which means a team defending a set piece is disadvantaged because the player returning to play must do so as the set piece is taken is unfair.

We looked jaded as the game went on after our midweek exploits. That doesn't bode well for the forthcoming weeks as our fixtures pile up.

[templeofsaints]

Temple report is up but we were poor. Good start then faded - defended far too deep and the midfield just never got going.

McInnes IMHO contributed little and was bloody lucky to stay on the park for his tackle on Moore and the aftermath although the ref got sod all right all day. None of the subs did that much with Lilley looking pretty slow and Morais (like McLaren / Sheerin) spending most of the time defending his own half.

James seemed to pick up a heavy knock but OC made a mistake in not putting Ando on straight away - it left us a man down for their goal.

County are fighting for their survival and it shows - they were hungrier and more cynical in their play while we seemed to be determined to walk the ball into the net all afternoon. More and more it seems to be that we need a 2nd goal now before we can relax and start playing. Well against 1st Div sides anyway.

Still Gretna getting humped means it is all in our hands now - win all the remaining games and score a barrowload and we'll take the title. :***:

[Invernessaint]

What happened to Jason Scotland? Was he injured?

I noticed he injured himself in the warm up, might have been nothing but he was out of sorts after that. Although we played poorly their keeper did make a string of good saves to keep us out. We did fade badly though and I agree with an earlier post that this does not bode well for the games ahead. The position we find ourselves in is better than it was a couple of weeks ago but unforunately I did not see anthing today to convince me that we will win enough of our remaining games, unless we pretend they are all cup fixtures! Anyone one know some good hypnotherapists that we could unleash on the team??!

[Radford 72]

Twice up there this season that the failure to get an injured man back to defend a set-piece has cost us and, IIRC, we lost a goal to them last season under the same circumstances too when James came off injured and they took a corner before the sub Fotheringham got back into position.

In November, Martin Hardie got a sore one in the nads and was hobbling up the pitch when they took their corner and today James was only just on the field when they took the free-kick. Like IS says, we should have taken a booking to stop them delivering the ball, although it was a stupid foul by Sheerin, who was as poor as he was during the Connolly era.

The subs all made little impact and Goran just didn't seem to be firing on all cylinders. They dominated the midfield all game and we didn't use any possession we did have nearly well enough.

[slf]

well done saints ye can stick the spl right up..
we murder you spl teams in the cups and dont have to suffer yer crap wee league with splits and only one up one down.get it right up ye

[Ronaldo]

Disappointing result today but thankfully Gretna get solidly beaten.
QOS are going to be tough down there.
Well we go level now with Gretna if we win our games in hand and we beat them down there like QOS did today.
Game on! 8)

[Finners]

Just wanted to say a big thank you to all the saints fans who put money into the 'SAVE OUR STAGGIES' buckets.Having met many fans from opposing teams I see that club loyalties can be set aside when a club needs help.Quite a few of your fans put money into my bucket today.You did have quite a few dressed up which was amusing to see,a pink crocodile,spiderman and a number of pink ladies,some of those ladies gave me money.Thanks to you all.I hope you all had a safe journey home.Ed

Yes, well the least you could have done was lost to us :roll: :wink:

[slf]

Just wanted to say a big thank you to all the saints fans who put money into the 'SAVE OUR STAGGIES' buckets.Having met many fans from opposing teams I see that club loyalties can be set aside when a club needs help.Quite a few of your fans put money into my bucket today.You did have quite a few dressed up which was amusing to see,a pink crocodile,spiderman and a number of pink ladies,some of those ladies gave me money.Thanks to you all.I hope you all had a safe journey home.Ed

Yes, well the least you could have done was lost to us :roll: :wink:
:***: :***:

[pavel]

Just wanted to say a big thank you to all the saints fans who put money into the 'SAVE OUR STAGGIES' buckets.Having met many fans from opposing teams I see that club loyalties can be set aside when a club needs help.Quite a few of your fans put money into my bucket today.You did have quite a few dressed up which was amusing to see,a pink crocodile,spiderman and a number of pink ladies,some of those ladies gave me money.Thanks to you all.I hope you all had a safe journey home.Ed

What's the fund raising for again?

[Ronaldo]

Just wanted to say a big thank you to all the saints fans who put money into the 'SAVE OUR STAGGIES' buckets.Having met many fans from opposing teams I see that club loyalties can be set aside when a club needs help.Quite a few of your fans put money into my bucket today.You did have quite a few dressed up which was amusing to see,a pink crocodile,spiderman and a number of pink ladies,some of those ladies gave me money.Thanks to you all.I hope you all had a safe journey home.Ed

What's the fund raising for again?
So that they can afford a bigger police presence for the next visit of the pink crocodile,spiderman and a number of pink ladies, not to mention the Dingwall/Inverness 22, em 21, maybe 6. :shock:

[StDuncM]

Just back from our 900 mile trip!

First half we dominated but failed to put all but one of the chances away. We tired, not unsurprisingly, in the 2nd half and were lucky to escape with a point but as Gretna got stuffed we are creeping inexorably closer.

Also we were sat in away stand and I cannot believe the amount of moaning and swearing at our players that was going on from certain fans. There is no pleasing some people, even after our recent exploits against the big boys from the SPL.

We were a pale shadow of the team that played Motherwell but we live in hope and no-one played particularly well except James The pitch surface did not help either.

Furthermore, they scored when James was just coming back on to the pitch after being hacked down by a county player. No-one commanding enough in the area. If he had been subbed by Anderson before the free kick this might not have happened but James wanted to get back on and Ross took advantage of this. His mobility was not too good from then on.