OntarioFox

drunk

I'M IN YORK I HAD NO IDEA THE SNOOKER WAS ON LOL YEAAAA GWON THE JESTER

Shame they've let the gap narrow to basically nothing, but that was massive. Hopefully swings the momentum back in Hearts' favour.

I've not had a coffee yet, forgive me

I travelled from Liverpool and the leg to Crewe was fine, then the Crewe to Derby run was a joke. I was shocked at how many sheep botherers got on in Stoke, to the point they refused to let anyone on at Uttoxeter. Like come on, you've got two teams to support there, go hang out with Robbie Williams at Port Vale or something, don't clog up a two-carriage train with your stinky armpits and that weird replica-shirt-over-a-parka thing they seem to do more than anyone else.

The 2-0 in our relegation season and the pathetic 4-1 crashout in the cup were two of the worst displays I've ever seen us produce. And the 3-1 implosion at Cov under Enzo was a timely reminder that we still had a paper-thin mentality and naive players that couldn't hack it when another team was more up for it than us. Like I say, we capitulated against local rivals in all three, we were appalling and I was genuinely angry at our players. So yeah, going away to a local derby and seeing the players pumped up, putting crunching tackles in and generally getting into 'em was beautiful. I know it's 'only Derby', but still. I struggle to give too much credit for the 2-2 draw considering we had already been deservedly relegated and had rolled over for Forest at home. Though it was very funny to see that game alter their trajectory so drastically. A bit like that first cup collapse under Rodgers for us, I guess.

The lads he picked were well up for a local Derby away from home, something multiple managers have now failed to achieve. He chose a hell of a time to bomb out the likes of Faes and Winks, who have been part of those past failures in fixtures that mean more. After picking up one point in the last four away days against Forest and Cov, and looking pathetic in every game that had something riding on it, I have to give him his dues. That was proper cathartic yesterday after those miserable days at the Shitty Ground under Rodgers in particular. He's got a long way to go to convince me he's the answer, and I haven't forgotten our capitulation at home against the sky blue mouthbreathers earlier this year, but as I said yesterday hopefully we've got the blueprint for a team we can actually get behind now.

Oliver Skipp has been unleashed. Be fearful.

From potato peel to potato pelé

I'm cool with his game time being managed so long as we keep seeing more of his fellow academy teammates like today.

Absolutely insane second half Another point gained on forest 🤞

Ollie Ollie Ollie On the volley In a Skipp Man's world ... needs work

Second half game management was suspect at first, but on reflection we stabilised pretty well from Choudhury's introduction onwards. One decent save aside, I thought we shut Derby out well for the last half hour. Showed some balls dropping problem players, had us on the front foot from the start for once, and (Evans for Daka aside) made a brave call to play the kids to see the game out. I can get behind that. Now show some backbone and stick with this approach, Marti. Your job is toast if you backtrack.

Shaun the Sheep He cries in his sleep Can we play you Every week? 🎶

Needs looking after, he's got the perfect mix of bite and a calm head when needed. Not the finished article, one or two bits of iffy positioning, but I already feel more comfortable watching us when he's on the pitch. Hope he stays fit during this busy period. If Souttar does end up featuring when he's back fit I'm actually quite excited about our defensive prospects after Christmas.

100%. I have been one of their harshest critics this season, but that group that played today is one I can get behind each week.

@hfaes

It's never a given that even a local derby can get our end up for it, but that was class today. 100% helped by the players, though. Proper chicken and egg, but as soon as it was obvious they were up for it, it turned into one of the best away ends in a long, long time.

Fingers crossed that's a proper kick in the gonads for Cov by the way - properly humbled today. If they bottle promotion it'll make a shit season a little more palatable.

Ehh, I'm from up that way and unless I've missed something every club is dealing with the same conditions. Preston are practically next door and they were able to finish their game no problem. Last I checked Blackburn doesn't have it's own unique microclimate, they're just failing to maintain their pitch properly because they're owned by skinflints. Maybe it's all those holes the Beatles were singing about. Now we know how many holes it takes to get a game called off.

.

Steady on, just because Bouba turns it on once every 2-3 months doesn't mean he's not a lazy bastard the rest of the time

They need to start fining that cowboy Venky (or whoever is in charge now) for lack of standards, twice in two months when the rest of the league has been fine in similar weather is a pisstake.

Quietly having a decent season to be honest. Class finish today as well.

It's just what he does, Frank