AIRDRIE UTD

Even the drubbing by Morton didn't seem as bad as today's game. Against Morton we dominated for 20 minutes before our injury ravaged defence crumbled. Today we just didn't seem capable of sticking it to Gemmell and Rankin's boys. Fair enough Docherty hit the bar in the first half, but a couple of decent moves by Glancy and McKeown apart we lacked invention. Our day was summed up late in the first half when Vareille, sent clear and bearing down on the goalie in a one against one situation, checked out of his run when the ball was playable. And Dumbarton's Nigerian, Didier Agathe-alike, forward was looking menacing.

Nothing about our drab, lifeless performance changed after the break and it was no surprise that we went a goal down. Obidile worked a situation well on the right and his cross evaded a bemused Willie Wilson for Dillon to head home. Immediately Glancy was replaced by Willie MacLaren, a move that was greeted with howls of disgust. Not for MacLaren. Moments later Vareille was replaced by the unlikely Paul Ronald and cue the abuse aimed at the player boss. Dumbarton made it two in almost identical fashion before a late rally from McKeown and MacLaren petered out.

That performance was about as miserable as I can remember. Too many players weren't worth the admission money. From a goalie that flaps at crosses and panics with a ball at his feet to defenders that aren't tackling, to midfielders that can't pass, to wingers that can't cross, to strikers that can't strike, we are a dishevelled looking mob that could do with the week off to regroup, maybe take advantage of the new transfer legislation, and hopefully come back refreshed. We need to get the midfield four sorted out immediately. Marvyn's form has dipped, Dunn is worse than a man missing, Docherty is less effective in the middle. Three problems that can be sorted by a reshuffle. Scott Wilson needs to be worked with on the training ground. Why can someone become so bad overnight? What about the Willie Wilson situation,and the goalie? I think the strikers are the least of the problem just now as there are goals in Varielle, Dosser, Gow and even Roberts but a lot of that is dependant on the rest of the team getting sorted out. I'm still confident that Sandy can and will get it sorted out. I just hope that he gets a couple of better quality players to work with as soon as possible before the promotion dream fizzles out.