I think you're being a wee bit harsh, Larry. We were a million times better than last time we played them, and I can't remember the last time we at least made the keeper work as hard as we did. It was poor marking by McGregor that undid us this time along with our usual struggle to score, but we were making chances and putting shots in.
I have to give some credit to McDowall too. He's still not the guy to sort out all our problems but he's changed the style of play, shown that he's not afraid to change the personnel in the team (though starting with Boyd was a bit of a mystery to me) and if you ask me he's doing the right thing in praising his players even after that defeat. They need to build confidence somehow and if it's not coming from results it needs to come from elsewhere.
He's even got Hutton doing a lot more of what made him a good player. When McCoist inexplicably froze him out a couple of years ago he was dominating reserves matches, making runs straight through the middle of the park and laying things off for the strikers. When Ally finally did put him back in the first team he just sat in the middle of the park passing sideways. I worried he'd missed his chance to turn into a player but if McDowall sticks with him for now he can make good progress.
Stick on penalty right before their second by the way which the ref decided to ignore (go fig), and if we'd scored there and gone on to win it I don't think anyone could have said we didn't deserve it.
I have to give some credit to McDowall too. He's still not the guy to sort out all our problems but he's changed the style of play, shown that he's not afraid to change the personnel in the team (though starting with Boyd was a bit of a mystery to me) and if you ask me he's doing the right thing in praising his players even after that defeat. They need to build confidence somehow and if it's not coming from results it needs to come from elsewhere.
He's even got Hutton doing a lot more of what made him a good player. When McCoist inexplicably froze him out a couple of years ago he was dominating reserves matches, making runs straight through the middle of the park and laying things off for the strikers. When Ally finally did put him back in the first team he just sat in the middle of the park passing sideways. I worried he'd missed his chance to turn into a player but if McDowall sticks with him for now he can make good progress.
Stick on penalty right before their second by the way which the ref decided to ignore (go fig), and if we'd scored there and gone on to win it I don't think anyone could have said we didn't deserve it.