Craig's Corner - Not an optimistic piece

Last updated : 27 October 2002 By Craig Holmes

We all knew in July that it would be a long season. We all said that eleventh place in the table would be a great achievement for the club. Twelve games have passed but I think if we lose next week against Thistle and go bottom we will stay there. After Saturday's result the confidence has gone out of the players. To lose 5-1 to a team that are not even good is shocking. We have only managed one point from the last six games and that is relegation form. It now looks like we will need to hope that Falkirk win the first division, as I don't think they have permission to have a new stadium yet.

Recent Games

Saturday's Scorer
Rangers 3-0 'Well - It's what we all expected. You could say that the score flattered them but we never looked like creating the chances to put the result in any doubt. Amoruso, Lovenkrands and De Boer made it an easy afternoon for Rangers. To add to 'Well's misery David Partridge needlessly got himself sent off which now means he misses the Partick game, our biggest match of the season so far.

'Well 1-5 Livi - We were absolutely ripped apart on Saturday in the second half. We just cannot create any chances without Faddy. Lee Makel scored early on to make it 1-0 at half time but 'Well fans were hopeful we could pull it back. Sherif scored twice to make it 3-0 before Khaled Kemas scored on his debut with a fine volley. Then Bingham chipped Woods before the goalie decided to run out of his box to get the ball only to completely miss the ball and the player to leave David Xausa an empty goal for the fifth.

The Debate Goes On

Will Terry Butcher now drop Stevie Woods or stick with him? That is the question most fans will be thinking about in the run up to Saturday's vital game at Firhill. Personally I think Terry should give DuBordeau a run in the team. I think if he can get a long run, at least seven or eight games, then we will see that he is a good 'keeper. He should be given a chance as the fans don't have any confidence in Woods anymore. I wonder if the boos on Saturday will convince Terry that the fans think it's time for a change.

Prediction

We face two games this week against Aberdeen and Partick. The Aberdeen game is not important as for me it's a pointless competition with no reward for the winners. I think Terry will rest a few players like Lehmann, Leitch and Pearson, so I think that Aberdeen will be too strong for us.

As for the Thistle game we should have a full squad (with the exception of Partridge) to choose from if we get through the cup game with no injuries. It will be a close game, as both teams don't seem to score a lot of goals. I think whoever gets the first goal will go on to win the game and I think that by the end of the week we will be out of the cup and bottom of the table.

Aberdeen 3-1 'Well

Partick 1-0 'Well

Cheers

Craig