AIRDRIE UTD

Raith

I’m not going into too many the details of the match, they’ll be well enough documented. Briefly, Annand scored after only 5 minutes. Lovering and McGowan mananged to lose the plot on the left side of our defence, Annand was allowed acres of space and he picked a spot beyond Hollis. Lovering hit the post with a freekick shortly afterwards, and McKeown had another effort palmed away by Brown later in the half. In the second half Jablonski was allowed a free header as Hollis and Lovering downed tools. MacDougall missed an open goal as a downward header agonisingly flicked up off of the crossbar.

Airdrie started confidently going forward. Roberts was managing to link up play in an admittedly unobtrusive manner, McKeown was bringing an air of calm to the midfield, and McManus looked like he had the defence organised. But then the goal changed that in an instant. Gormless may be a word to describe out outlook at present. This should have been the ‘calming of nerves’ game. After losing the first we didn’t collapse but the mindset of the team was affected badly. Calm was gone, desperation set in. Several things aren’t working. Coyle looks fragile on the right of defence, McGowan and Lovering – both competent players – have a ‘Bermuda Triangle’ between them. I absolutely admire both players but cannot figure out the phenomena existing in that gap between (and in front) of them. Maybe it is the lack of height that is widely touted, who knows? Marshall has contributed little on the right of midfield, McKeown didn’t have the brilliant game I’d set my heart on, but he still performed well. Docherty still looks like out of touch in central midfield. At one point he almost caused his own and opponent a head injury each with a hopeless challenge. For the sake of his health and career I hope he is moved out wide with haste. I like him on the right wing in an attacking role but please Sandy, spare him and us another pathetic Roy Keane impression. Up front I didn’t see much of Twiggy and Roberts again fizzled out after a bright spell. The one highlight for me was again the performance of young MacDougall. This kid has all the moves but it’s asking too much for him to carry this team on his slim shoulders at present.