SFL Div 2, Somerset Park, 21/8/10

Ho-hum. Not even a penalty goal today.

We did score, though. But it was for Ayr, not ourselves.

It was the only one we lost so I lowered the predictor a touch.

Looks like we might have had a left back in the side at last.

SFL Div 2, The Rock, 14/8/10

I wasn’t at the game… but it’s not looking good.

From the BBC report it looks like another eccentric Chapman selection.

Four games in (two in the league) and we’ve scored only three goals – two of them from penalties. Old failings not remedied.

And two away games coming up.

*I haven’t changed this even though we only lost two today. Given last week goodness knows how many it might have been if they’d stayed at eleven men.

SFL Div 2, Station Park, 7/8/10

Oh.

Dear.

This was a game we dominated (in terms of possession and territory) for most of it. Yet looking at the score you’d think the opposite.

We didn’t, of course, make much of the ball when we had it.

I feared the worst as soon as they scored – on their first foray up the park. Terrible defending all round and Stephen Grindlay didn’t cover himself in glory. We then got a quick penalty for the ball striking a Forfar player’s hand which Chaplain put away. We were on for about 7-7 at that rate. The same player then had a great chance, rounding the keeper, but put it wide of a gaping goal (with his wrong foot, but still.) I was reminded a bit of Fergus Tiernan’s miss in the opening game three seasons ago at Firs Park. The season turned on that moment, I think – and we all remember how it turned out.

Another reminder of that day was that today Stephen Grindlay made a great imitation of Peter Shaw. Both the second and third Forfar goals went right through him. He wasn’t the only one to blame in each case but he was a common factor.

The front two, Maxwell and Campbell, linked up well at times but didn’t really penetrate. Chaplain was ineffective at right mid, Nugent wasn’t any better than Chissie at right back and Chissie was out of position again at left back. And we had neither width nor pace. Why no Del Boy from the start? By the time he came on it was too late.

The sad thing is Forfar didn’t have to be good to win this. They only had to turn up and sling in crosses. A glance at the Sons TV footage of pre-season would probably have told them this.

Unfortunately there will be good teams in this division. I’m not at all sanguine about Livingston at home next week.

* It ought to be 144 but I thought I’d go for a nice round number. Judging by today it’s an underestimate anyway.

Long.

Hard.

Season.