4.30pm

Sorry for the lack of updates recently, but as I'm sure you realise it's a very busy time of the year.

As far as the Rangers game on the 27th was concerned, I've heard a few fans saying they thought we did okay.  Maybe I was watching a different game but I thought we were terrible, albeit with a makeshift midfield.  With Marshall, Leitch and O'Donnell all out and Corrigan playing out of position in the middle of the park, we were always going to be up against it.  Mind you, some of our defending, especially for the first and second goals, was absolutely criminal and Partridge in particular simply wasn't at the races.  Barry John Corr had a couple of decent saves in the second half but certainly doesn't seem to install any sort of confidence in his defence, and his distribution is appalling.

On the positive side, Foran did ok and it was good to have Scott McDonald back again.  Although clearly not 100% fit his cracking goal shortly after the break got us right back into the match, only for us to concede again virtually straight away.  Typical.

Anyway, enough of my inane ramblings.  You can read Ricky's report of the game here.

Terry Butcher's port match comments were as follows:
"When the spine of the team is missing it doesn't help but Barry John Corr came in and had a great game for us.  If it wasn't for him they could have doubled the score. He was terrific.  I can't use the four men out as the reason why we lost the game - we simply weren't good enough.  I felt like walking in after the first two goals. There might have been something better on the TV like the Great Escape or something.  It would have been a great escape as well."

Team news for the Aberdeen game on Monday.  Gordon Marshall will again miss out due to his elbow knock, while Phil O'Donnell is also unavailable after being told to rest his injured Achilles.  However, Scott Leitch has recovered from his chest infection and could feature, while David Clarkson is back after suspension.

Motherwell have taken 20-year-old Birmingham City striker Andrew Barrowman on trial.  The Glaswegian hasn't made any first team appearances for Birmingham, but was loaned out to Blackpool and Crewe.

The Official Site has confirmed Brian Kerr's contract extension until May 2007, while Marc Fitzpatrick has signed up until 2008.

TB has hit out at the SPL after being told that he won't be able to register any new players until Wednesday - five days after the transfer window opens:
"This is the only time we are allowed to do business between August 31 and May, and the SPL is shut down for a holiday.  With the SPL closing down until January 5, that means we have a grand total of 19 days in which to bring in players. It is not enough after seven-and-a-half months of inactivity.  After perhaps December, January is the worst possible time to have the transfer window due to holidays.  It would be better if the window was in November or February.  The SFA will work through the holidays in order to register players. But players also need to be registered with the SPL in order to be eligible to play in our games.  

"Nobody has made any formal enquiries about any of our players yet. But we have a couple of irons in the fire and will monitor developments."

The referee for the Kilmarnock cup tie will be Craig Thompson.

Hope everyone has a great new year!

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