Sometimes, the decisions made at football matches cause wonder and admiration and at others no one can understand the reasoning. We had such a happening today at Fir Park when Hibs comfortably cuffed us by three to one.
After a first half full of incident the teams trooped into the dressing room still level (though Hibs looked the better team). Our subs came on for the warm up and immediately Hammell and Nicholas got the nod that they would be starting the second forty five. Billy had decided that Adams and Twaddle were to be replaced. Why?
Our formation remained basically a 3-5-2 and this forced Hammell into a midfield role. And we collapsed. The Hibees scored a couple (a Sauze free kick deflected off the wall after a silly foul from Ready and a shot through a ruck of players by Fenwick in to the corner of the net) and in truth only a great performance by Brown in goal saved us from a bigger beating.
The frustration which was evident in the team spread to the crowd and the home terraces were almost clear by the time the referee brought the contest to an end. The unanswered question was - Why the subs at half time?
To rub salt into the wound we had taken the lead early in the game with a peach of a penalty from Ned Kelly. Elliott's twisting in the box caused him to be held and the spot kick was awarded. Stuarty's work rate and skill was one of the few bright notes for us today.
We held on to the lead for all of ninety seconds before we gave them the first of two penalties in the first half. Twaddle gave the first away and we were equal. Then Leitch added to our destruction by giving another. Brown saved and the danger was cleared.
Depressing times at Fir Park and dangerous times for Billy Davies. We are away to Ibrox next week face the likliehood of gaining three points from out first seven games. We have won only one game at Fir Park in the whole of 2001. And we can't attract a big home support?