In Terry Butcher's long and impressive history as a stopper there can be few occasions when he has been involved with such an unsure and uncertain group of defenders as wore the Claret and Amber today.
'Well fans unfortunate enough to witness the first half saw what must have been one of the worst defensive displays ever by any SPL team.
The first fifteen minutes had little incident but the warning signs were there. In twelve minutes a cross forced Brown into a good save from an unmarked header and then a mistake by Corrigan allowed a run in on goal and again we escaped. But not for long.
In twenty minutes another cross from the right was met squarely by Xausa and his header was always goalbound. The lack of height in our back four (with Strong on the bench) cost us dear. Then the collapse began - big time!
A minute after the goal with the defence sleeping Brown produced a marvellous save but thirty seconds later the ball was in the back of the net. The keeper had charged from his box to face a breakaway run and failed to collect the ball. But he slowed the attack enough to allow Corrigan to prevent Wilson firing into the open goal. Wilson recovered the ball on the byeline and produced a weak cut back which Hammell (with no Livi player near him) collected on his chest. His control was poor and the ball trickled over the line.
It seemed obvious at that stage that the back four were in trouble. Surely a change would be made? No.
Five minutes before the break and Ready and Corrigan conspire to concede the third goal. Ready had won the ball just outside the box and it lay a couple of yards from him and Corrigan. They both froze and left the ball for each other. Xausa decided to take some action and nipped between them to run in on goal and slot the ball into the corner.
A woeful forty five minutes in which we managed only a couple of half chances.
At the break we brought McFadden on for for Pearson and on the hour Lasley was replaced by Twaddle.
We had most of the play but rarely threatened. Strong came on for Adams and Deloumeaux moved in to midfield.
Then a goal! Twaddle sent in a cross/shot and McFadden rose to attempt a glancing header into the net (though there it is uncertain if he got his head to the ball).
The goal was poor compensation for a poor, poor performance. The midfield and attack were unable to take the pressure off the beleaguered defence. and we got what we deserved.
No doubt Terry Butcher will have a word or two to say to the defenders at training next week!