150th Celebrations - 5th Oct (Raith at home)

[TRVMP]

I remember when Arbroath were temporarily good, Jack Hamilton really looked the part. In fact I wish we'd signed him. Not sure what's happened to him but he's miles off it now.

[dunning1874]

From what I thought was our worst league performance of the season in the first half to what was undoubtedly our best in the second half. The difference a goal makes, two terrifically taken finishes and managed the game well from there. Thought some players I'd thought had a poor first half were excellent in the second, that was McGinn's best performance for us by a distance.

[Cet Homme Charmant]

14 minutes ago, dunning1874 said:

From what I thought was our worst league performance of the season in the first half to what was undoubtedly our best in the second half. The difference a goal makes, two terrifically taken finishes and managed the game well from there. Thought some players I'd thought had a poor first half were excellent in the second, that was McGinn's best performance for us by a distance.

Apart from the first 15 minutes or so, I don't think the first half performance was as bad as you made out. We had a couple of decent penalty shouts (the first one looked like a stonewaller to me) and their keeper pulled off a great save. 

[Pedrodelawasp]

Recovered from a ropey first 20 minutes or so to get a bit more in to the game. Came out for the second transformed, deservedly getting our goals as a result.

Really pleased with the ability to see the game out from there. Lyall stepped up well when Wilson went off then Gillespie played his part when he replaced him.

Good shift from McGinn who probably had his best game for us so far.

Pleased for Stuparević to get off the mark and for Garrity coming on earlier than he may have expected and doing really well.

A happy club birthday all in. Mon the ‘Ton.

[Doddie]

First 20 minutes was rough. After we realised our new number 9 could actually play we were much better. Probably helped us with Crawford going off and having pace with Moffat and Garrity wide. For the first time this season we were clinical and managed the game perfectly second half. 

[Tink]

Moffat was better on the right and Garrity on the left after Crawford went off. Nothing against Crawford, who played ok, but he’s not a natural wide player and we just looked better with Garrity. 
I wasn’t hugely impressed with the new striker, but if he scores in every match then nothing else really matters. He took his goal well.

If we play the rest of the season the way we played the second half then we will be challenging for promotion. But remember, this was a very poor Raith team that we beat.

Off the field problems persist. We give away 1000 free tickets. It’s not rocket science to expect an extra 1000 on the gate, so why not open extra turnstiles?  We arrived at 2:10 and there was a long queue at that time.
At least the pie stall didn’t run out of pies today (a first) but they have cut the number of staff and this caused long queues. Many fans missed the two goals as they had been waiting for over 20 minutes to get served. Not good Dale. If you take these things in house, you have to provide a better service than the old system.

The 150 celebrations were a bit underwhelming. Could we only dig up a handful of ex players to come along? What about Jim Holmes, Jim Hunter, Roy Baines, Joe Harper and Joe Jordan, Andy Ritchie, David Wylie. The list goes on. Makes me think that the whole thing was cobbled together at the last minute without much thought. And why Kilbarchan pipe band? Do we not have a local band that could play? I genuinely don’t know the answer to that one, but it seems to be a repeat of decision to hold the golf day in Renfrewshire a couple of years ago when we had good courses in Inverclyde to use. Quite ironic when the programme notes said that the board had learned from their mistakes.

[Waverley]

2 hours ago, Cet Homme Charmant said:

Was sorry to hear Alastair's announcement that big Andy Morrison has passed away. RIP big fella.

Yes indeed, RIP Andy. I use to listen online to his match commentaries, back in the day.

[CBTON]

1st half I thought was very slow today just seemed well off the place & got ran over in the midfield. Raith unlucky not to score through Easton’s strike. Thought we should have had a penalty after Crawford caught Dabrowski in no man’s land but will need to see again. 
2nd half we were much better & 2 good goals was enough to see them off. 
Another howling refereeing performance however, they just seem to be getting worse week upon week. 
Anyway delighted with the 3 points especially against that lot. Hope Andy Barrowman has a wonderful night. 

[RossMcC1874]

3 points and that's all that mattered today. Thought first half was shite for both teams. 

Second half we came into it and scored two good goals, smashing header for the first and real composure from Garrity to take his goal.

McGinn really good today best performance so far. Crawford didn't do much and we were much better when Garrity came on. 

Didn't think Raith caused us any issues particularly they looked pretty rank. 

The whole event of the 150th Anniversary was a bit underwhelming tbh even the crowd was incredible flat I felt. 

[Scott]

Cammy Ballantyne was superb today. Pocketed their winger until he went off, won everything and very good on the ball. 

[Chicken_Soup]

Ballantyne was my MOTM, even before his comedy attempt at going in goal. He just doesn’t have a weakness to his game.

 

I thought the whole team defended superbly. In the first half, we might not have been brilliant but we held them at bay and if we can continue to keep games tight, with a striker who pops up with the odd goal, we could start moving up the table. Credit to Broadfoot, who was talked about as a comedy re-signing, but has been superb with Boyes and Corr out. 

[vikingTON]

I think the scoreline and possibly the result flattered us today, but it evens out with the Hamilton game when we failed to be as clinical in front of goal. Baird was MOTM not least for two key blocks in either half for Raith's best openings in the game. 

For me the midfield structure still does not work. I'd much rather have Gillespie alongside Wilson at its base and play from there, as we are still too lightweight out of possession. 

Reynolds did exactly what was needed in the closing stages, which is fine as an impact sub. Hopefully we get more salmon leap headers from the Serb hitman.

[AyrshireTon]

First half was poorer than last week and I felt we were lucky to go in level.

Different story in the 2nd half with two decent goals and the defence were strong enough to see it out comfortably. 

More strange refereeing, as is the norm.

[Alibi]

First 25 minutes we looked overwhelmed. Second half much better especially when Garrity came on. 2 cracking goals.

[gmfc_craig]

Great 2nd half showing! Ballantyne would have been my pick for MotM, 2nd choice would have been Baird after his disaster giving away the penalty last week.

Agree that the 150th celebrations were a little underwhelming. It's a time like this where I think a screen installed at Cappielow would be beneficial, where you could have former players (e.g. Lindberg, Rajamaki sending a video message from Finland and McInnes sending a few words, as obviously he was managing Killie today). Defo a few tricks missed to elevate the day! 

Stuparevic looked a little lackadaisical (Great header for the goal however) and fair play to Mullen adamant not letting us go down to 10 men. 

[Tubes]

Good performance overall with Ballantyne and Baird really standing out. I thought in the second half Moffat’s defensive work was excellent too, just getting in at the right time on multiple occasions.

No surprise we looked miles better when Garrity replaced Crawford. He just offers so much more, his pace and directness being a major factor. Took his goal really well on his weaker foot

The long ball game, particularly first half up to Stuparevic really isn’t going to work though and that needs to change going forward. 

[DumfriesTon]

Baird and Ballantyne were outstanding. Game management in the 2nd half also very good. Garrity is a terrific player.

[Toby]

Watched Raith’s highlights on Twitter, there. Despite the victory, I hope Dougie’s battering down Willie Collum’s door tomorrow morning over the Dabrowski/Moffat penalty incident in the first half. A more stonewall penalty you won’t see that won’t be given this or any season.

I’m not convinced that the handball from Ballantyne’s second half drive was a penalty given the rule changes, but with the amount we’ve been denied this season, and that being the most glaring example, he has to plant our misfortune in the officials’ minds.

If it‘s good enough for other managers to promote the “big, bad, physical Morton have their way of playing” narrative, it’s good enough for us to bang on about a pattern of decisions going against us and seeking changes.

[Hands of Cowan]

15 hours ago, Chicken_Soup said:

Ballantyne was my MOTM, even before his comedy attempt at going in goal. He just doesn’t have a weakness to his game.

Fair play to Cammy for stepping up to jump in goal, but Woods was listed as a sub and we only made 4 changes. So why wasn't he considered to replace Mullen if needed. Assuming he's carrying an injury.

[Toby]

17 minutes ago, Hands of Cowan said:

Fair play to Cammy for stepping up to jump in goal, but Woods was listed as a sub and we only made 4 changes. So why wasn't he considered to replace Mullen if needed. Assuming he's carrying an injury.

You can only make your changes across three windows- we made changes in the 36th, 60th and 74th (double change) minutes, so had no other windows available to make a change.