Motherwell Leave It Late But Top The Group

[sieb1886]

We won - we're through - but so far ... we're 5hite!

Finger out time Robbo.

[dazlhigh]

We won - we're through - but so far ... we're 5hite!

Finger out time Robbo.

That was grim - reminded me of the Stranraer game- no cohesion or imagination; few chances being made. Charles being out for so long is a big blow - the other defenders have been embarrassed for pace too often for comfort against lower league players. Every time Clyde booted the ball up the park today my heart was in my mouth.

That said, I don't think that Clyde were unlucky; they can be disappointed, yes, but over the piece we deserved to win the game. The fans round about me were roaring their disapproval when Tait was taken off, but by that time Clyde had very little attacking threat. The change paid off; credit to the manager.

[Handsome_Devil]

No arguments that it was a poor performance but I'm not sure that it is such an indicator of a poor season ahead as some fear.

Yes, the issue over our defence is real. If Hartley doesn't pick up and the gaps close, we're in for a long, long struggle.

But if it does (and a couple of games after a serious knee injury, including time on dubious plastic is hardly decisive in Hartley's case) what has really changed from last term? Are we uninspired? Absolutely. Do we give everything and refuse to give up? Absolutely.

Today Clyde will grump they could have taken their second chance and killed it but we had ball after ball after ball into their box and the fact the quality was usually lacking is irrelevant...if you have that much pressure in the opposition box in Scotland, you will win way more games than you lose. That applies to the top-flight too.

Last season we worked hard, were organised and survived on teams throwing us points more than we threw them away. If the defence v Stranraer and Clyde is indicative of the season ahead, that balance has changed and we're in bother...but last season the LC group was not really an indication of things to come. A late(ish) goal v Berwick and late, late goal v Edinburgh disguised some uninspired showings and we then opened the league with two losses. Things turned out okay.

The only time to begin panicking is the end of August when the final squad is known for the first half of the campaign.