Preview: Gretna (a?)

Our good start came to a halt, in terms of results, when we lost 2-1 to Killie last week. But many people believe that was one of our best performances of recent years and if there is ever a time in the competitive season when performance is more important than result it might be now. If we can keep up that kind of play we will win quite a few games and you would hope we would be too strong for the likes of Gretna.

However Gretna did take a very good away point at Tynecastle and even though they lost their previous matches they did show some smart touches and made chances. We should know by now we cannot say 'the likes of' and get away with it. Gretna may be a small club, they may be without a win and this may, in effect, be a home game for us but if the attitude is wrong then we will struggle.

Under Mark McGhee attitude doesn't seem to be too much of a problem. We have defended when needed, albeit with occasional mistakes, but there has not been a moment in the opening games when we looked anything less than 100% organised and committed. In the SPL that is often enough to get points.

Mensing may be suspended after his red card for the reserves in mid-week but it is unlikely he would have cracked the side anyway. The one big question is whether or not McCormack comes in and if so does he switch for McGarry, as he did from the bench last time, or for Porter. The problem is that McCormack is probably better out on a wing rather than through the middle so if he was in the side we would probably have to move Clarkson into the centre to make way for him. Clarkson is looking like a footballer for the first time in years, do we really want to muck about with him now?

At least it is a pleasant problem to have for once. We have many options and if a change is made it will be though choice rather than necessity, sure a position of strength. We might make another meal of it but surely we can take some of our chances this time. 2-0 Motherwell.