The Lone Rangers

We get a busy month under way with a victory over the seemingly doomed Hamilton. Ruben Loftus-Cheek continues to show signs that his set-pieces are actually improving with another well placed free-kick, whilst Darren Lavery continues to enjoy his run out in the Premier League with a brace to bring him up to six goals within just three games. That is more then he scored in total last season.


Its been a massive wait to get to the fifth round having qualified way back in November but the occasion seems to get the better of this as we stutter to a one all draw against the Championship's Cowdenbeath. We've never made it further then this in any knock-out competition we just cant seem to do our best when it involves the cups but have no problem in beating Celtic on the road and topping the Premier League. Bizarre.


Second times the charm as we eventually make it past Cowdenbeath all be it on the lottery of penalties. Young Shane O'Hanlon who stepped up to the first team at the start of the season scored his first professional goal for the team in the only real highlight of normal time but a strong showing by stand-in stopper James Atkinson stole the show as we kept out two of Cowdenbeaths spot-kicks. We're finally making progress.


Back to the league and a poor showing against Hibernian on the road. Despite Donohue making a return to his earlier form with a three minute goal, we could do little to stop the mid-table Hibs from dominating the rest of the game. Our scrappy defending resulting in an early penalty and a frustrating display all round as our previous lead over the chasing pack finally crumbles away.


Inverness gave us a rude awakening last time with a five goal demolition but we certainly showed we had learnt our lessons from that emphatic defeat as we completely shut up shop. Unfortunately our defensive efforts couldn't be matched by an attacking master-class as we too struggle to break through some tough defending resulting in a fair goalless draw.


Motherwell are having a season they would rather forget having completely flopped at the opportunity Celtic presented them at the start of the season, however they still showed they are by no means toothless in the league in a dominant first half of football. Going in two goals down at the break was deflating but to their credit the boys responded well but a sloppy showing at the back still allowed Motherwell to find another goal as they held on to the victory.


Another weak display from our defence but thankfully our comeback this time resulted in the victory. We went in behind at the break again despite Barmbys goal but it was to be the youngest and oldest players on the pitch that would eventually decide the result as the iconic Darren Lavery and the future of the club, Shane O'Hanlon both found the back of the net in a convincing second half display against fellow high-flyers Kilmarnock.


Its over. Our run at the top of the table was certainly enjoyable but it seems Celtic and more importantly Paul Lambert have finally managed to get themselves up and running. For the majority of the season they gave a brief glimmer of hope for the teams around them but with the season creeping towards a close normal service has been resumed at Celtic Park. The decade of dominance looks set to continue.

- regarding the last reply I'm the same with big clubs really! I prefer a financial struggle!

Another great month pal, it's getting closer!!

Super title run in this is going to be and still competing in the scottish cup!

You can do it

Our efforts at clawing back Celtic stutter at the first attempt as we suffer a draw against Patrick Thistle. The game got off in fast enough fashion as Thistles opener is cancelled out by a Jack Barmby goal. Barmby has had a much slower season this time around but non the less he is at least contributing when it matters. Could be a player fighting for his position come the next transfer window.


Our first appearance in the quarter finals and we certainly make sure we leave a lasting impression destroying Dundee in style. They narrowly missed out on taking our place in the Premiership last season but looked a world away from being on our level as we ran out comfortable winners. Andy Vaughan made his first appearance since destroying his ham-string and picked up a goal to signal he was quickly back to his best. Its been a season to forget for our teenage striker, hopefully he might get some silverware to make up for it.


Another draw in the league as our fall from grace is compounded by some lacklustre attacking. Andy Vaughan remains sidelined as we try to break him back in gently but with Lavery finally showing signs of age and our two wingers both looking like they our out of gas, it took a goal from centre-back Dunkley to tie up the game and at least keep our faint hopes of the title alive.


Three games, three draws. Once again it took Dunkleys head to claim a point. The defender makes it three goals in three games and continues to impress at the other end of the pitch but that was the only positive from a poor game. The month hasn't been a good one for the Borderers but even so we escaped without a defeat.


Incredibly we are still not out of it quite yet. Celtic only manage to build the gap up to three points but we are now under serious pressure from Kilmarnock as the three of us look set for a bitter battle for the title. With the season due to split in just a months time we are certain to be in the Championship group and with a Europa League qualifying spot guaranteed for even a fifth place finish it looks like we could be off to Europe already.

The run goes on! European football is just on the horizon! Don't blow it now whatever you do!!

We break the drawing streak with a victory in our final game of the normal league structure, both ourselves and Hearts are both set to duke it out in the final set of fixtures between the Championship group as the teams in the top six battle it our for position. With only one team set to miss out on a chance at European football its not going to be fiercely contested but with a title shot and Champions League football available we still have much to play for.


A victory here would have had us overthrow Celtic into the early top spot but a draw was non the less another impressive result. Jack Barmby netted the goal as the left winger shows he is more then able to find the back of the net when it really counts. Celtic are certainly not pulling away though, they've not been able to replicate the form that won them the title for the last few seasons. Its still there for the taking.


Five years of not making it past the first two rounds of a cup competition and then we go and make it straight into the final. Hamilton have had a miserable season, with the Scottish Cup proving to be their only shot at redemption, however an impressive display from the team, including another goal for the determined Jack Barmby robbed them of any glory. On to the final. Finally some silverware could be arriving in Shielfield Park.


Second game of the month against Hearts and we strangely struggle to a draw. Having beaten them on the road, we expected to increase the pressure on the top spot with another victory but even with the assistance of the referee we couldn't overthrow them. Given that the currently occupy the only spot that wouldn't reward a European spot its fair to say they are pulling out all the stops in an attempt at claiming some reward from a disappointing season.



Once again Celtic are unable to push us away with the season now coming down to a very tight finish. Its certainly going to be between ourselves, Celtic and Kilmarnock for the title. Its going to be a tough ask but with even a Champions League spot available for the taking for the top two we certainly can make some huge gains this season.

Wow wow wow! European football next season to little old Berwick! Unbelievable! Now to try and nail that Champions League spot and who knows, the top spot!? And the cup too. brilliant work mate!

A huge blow for our chances as we not only allow Celtic to increase their distance with just a few games remaining but we also drop the points to the only team capable of throwing us out of the Champions League spots. Young prodigy Shane O'Hanlon opened the scoring with a neat goal but after the break we where soon put on the back foot conceding two quick fire goals that left Shielfield Park completely deflated.


We can't pull off an immediate bounce back as we struggle to a draw against Inverness. Having a five goal thrashing still fresh in the memory any result that atleast takes some points from Inverness is at least something. Dean Parrett finally makes an impact. The midfielder is on the highest wages in the team and is yet to justify them. Is a late charge from the former Stevenage player on the books?


No. No it is not. A thrilling game rounded off our first season in the Premier League as we pull of an impressive comeback to claim a valuable point. Aberdeen controlled the game from almost the first whistle before Barmby and Lavery eventually bought the game back under control. It seemed we had done enough for the point until Aberdeen scored what was seemingly the winner ten minutes from time but our seasons best performer Donohue rounded off an impressive season with a goal in the last minute of the game.


Somehow we did it. We held the second place position in the league and are incredibly about to enter the Champions League. Kilmarnock managed to close the gap to just one point but flopped for the remainder of the month gifting us with the runner up spot as Celtic eventually stormed to victory. In what could have been an extremely disappointing month we are more then happy to settle for a spot in footballs biggest club competition, whilst we fire a clear warning shot towards Celtic.

Six points from the spl title in your first competitive season in the competition is outstanding as is qualifying for champions league football! Bring on this cup final!!

Outstanding stuff mate!!

Superb season Hope you win the Scottish Cup

It just wasn't to be. Paul Lambert has finally got Celtic back to their best just in time to not only win the title but to also cap it off with the Scottish Cup. We put on a good show and certainly showed that despite being new to the division we are not at the top of the league on just good fortune. With another season just a couple of months away already we can only hope that Celtic have the same poor run they did at the start of this season.

Unlucky to lose to Celtic but at least you only lost by a goal.

Exactly what Johno said, you barely got outplayed! A superb season just shy of silverware!

Currently I am losing all hope.


I have this error message whenever I try to pass one game. Tried holidaying and replaying an older save. No luck as of yet.

Anyone know of any work arounds for this?

Nooooo!

That's a damn shame, man. If it's still doing that after what you've said, I don't think it's retrievable.

Gutted

Have you tried resigning from the team?

They might have beaten us to the league title but we at least beat Paul Lambert to something. Its nice to have some recognition following a blockbuster season in the Premier League and its certainly fair to say that if I didn't win it this season I was never going to. Its been a phenomenal way to introduce myself to the best Scotland has to offer.


Andy Vaughan had a season to forget but it did allow Micheal Donohue to step up to the plate and my word did he do a good job at it. Truth be told I thought of him as a bit of a background player but given his opportunity in the first team he has quickly proved me and nearly every left-back in the country wrong, rapidly developing into the best winger not just in our squad but also the league.


We never even expected to be in the top half of the table this season let alone ending runners up, involved in a fierce title race and having qualified for the biggest club competition in the world. Truly incredible. Next season is going to be a testing one for us though. With our honeymoon period over, the riggers of European football to contend with and a much desired squad we have a lot of work to do if we are going to match these dizzying heights.

Four players are soon sent packing from Shielfield with one of the longest standing and final remaining Scottish players, Lee Currie being the main departure. With two midfielders and two defenders both leaving the club it appears we are set to overhaul the core of the team this window, a risky strategy given our high flying start but if it pays off we could maintain our lofty status.



Cost: Free
From: Out of Contract

Micheal Donohue absolutely destroyed the Premier League last season and the former Evertonian is certainly going to be maintain his spot on the right flank this time around as well, however with the addition of European football adding to our busy fixture list, Stuart Rayner arrives at the club as an able bodied replacement should he ever be needed. He's certainly not as talented as Donohue but his physical prowess makes him more then ready for the rough and tumble of Scottish football.



Cost: Free
From: Out of Contract

We raid Everton once more as we snap up their promising defender Callum Connolly. Having suffered a suprise relegation from the top flight, the Toffees are in dire straights and we are quick to take advantage, nipping in amongst the chaos to sign one of their best products on a free. With Stabana and Dunkley forming a strong partnership, his opportunities are going to be limited but he has still got a good deal of development still to come.



Cost: Free
From: Out of Contract

A former product from Manchester United, Mitchell ended up plying his trade for Colchester before being released at the end of the season. With his former United team-mate, Jack Barmby currently holding down his position on the left we have now got two very good players duking it out for a starting spot but with some absolutely rapid pace combined with some eye-catching flair and dribbling, Mitchell is already looking the odds on favourite.



Cost: Free
From: Out of Contract

We had to work extremely hard to land this boy, with a host of English teams eager to snap him up but eventually we managed to drag him up North. Carl Ritchie looked set for a promising career at Arsenal, however a horrific debut in his only game for the Gunners saw him score an own goal against rivals Tottenham Hotspur and all but ensured his eventual release from the club. Non the less he has a bright future and will make the pefect partner for our home grown talent, Shane O'Hanlon.



Cost: Free
From: Out of Contract

Much like Stuart Rayner above, we have signed up Murray Smyth to bolster the ranks as we head into what is set to be our busiest season to date. A good all round right back he is more then capable of one day becoming a starting member of the team however the form of Alexander McQueen means that even he will be settling for a place on the bench for the coming season. Strength in depth is key.



Cost: Free
From: Out of Contract

With his pace and finishing now a thing of the past, Gabby is a long way short of his Villa glory days but is more then capable of making a worthy addition to our team. With experience of the top flight of football and even three England caps to his name, he has been right to the top, fingers are crossed that he could soon do the same with the Borderers.

The team has never been so English. Just Darren Lavery remains. Having more then played his part in taking the team to the top of Scottish football he is now along for the ride, remaining as part of the squad on a non contract basis. We just can't seem to part ways.

With the addition of Agbondlahor to the ranks we finally have some depth for our lone striker role, however Andy Vaughan remains rooted to the starting position. Our lofty prodigy is not going to be shaken be the arrival of a former Premier League striker. Our midfield has seen a small change with Lee Currie finally departing with the new blood of Shane O'Hanlon, Carl Ritchie and Ruben Loftus-Cheek set to try their hands as our new three man central midfield grouping, whilst our defence remains unchanged aside from the arrival of a couple of new players to help provide some back-up should we need it.

First game of the pre-season has us up against another side set to take on the rigours of continental football in the shape of Ukrainian side Dnipro. We put on a convincing show and easily showed just how we had qualified for a chance at the Champions League with three goals fired past the hapless Easter Europeans boosting hopes across the town.


We venture back into English football by playing a Welsh side in the shape of Wrexham. Once again its another impressive outing for the Borderers and a chance for Agbondlahor to show just what he can do with a well crafted solo goal. I'm Curious to see just how we compare to the teams in our home nation. At least we appear to be above the level of League Two for now.


Back to trying our luck against some of Europes finest and another well earned victory. Gent missed out on even the Europa League this season following a disappointing season in Belgium and we soon showed them the level they would have to reach again as we play out a convincing one goal victory with a goal for Jack Barmby being all we needed to take the victory. A strong showing from our defence is very welcome.


Our run against European teams is at an end but we still put on a convincing showing against a German heavy-weight. Despite going a goal down we didn't collapse pulling of a short lived come-back as Gabby picked up his second of the pre-season but we still appear to lack a true ruthless edge that is going to be crucial in the upcoming European competitions.


Our last game against European opponents is a disappointing affair as we lose out to Russian side Amkar. A world apart from the likes of Zenit and CSKA they are by no means going to be troubling the Champions League anytime soon but still managed to claim a victory over the Borderers as a long journey across Europe has us return to England empty handed. A disappointing showing and hopefully not a sign of what we can expect on our travels.


Final game is the traditional showing against feeder team, Ashington. The plucky minnows have been putting up more resistance of late and once again nearly had us starting the season in disappointment had it not been for a last minute goal from new boy Stuart Rayner. Interestingly aside from seemingly getting more determined they unfortunately are yet to make any progress up the league tables.

Huzzah, mate! Glad to see you back up and running on this save. Good luck in the Champions League, no doubt will be a tough tie with whoever you'll face.

Decent pre season against tough teams Good signings you have brought in.

A hard earned draw against the Dutch bruisers is an impressive debut for the Borderers in Europe with Dunkley scoring from a well worked corner, however a red card for debutant Callum Connolly saw us end the match on a low. Interestingly it seems Shilefield Park doesn't meet the requirements for European football with us having to make Kingston Park the home of non-league Newcastle Blue Star as another adopted home.


Dream ended. It was always going to be tough and despite giving it our all we couldn't find a much needed goal as we have to settle for a one goal defeat on the road. A goal just before the break quickly took the wind out of our sails and PSV easily held on to the victory, with new boy Agbondlahor unable to make an impact from the bench. Ah well fortunately we have a second shot at European glory in the Europa League. Its not over yet

Gutted Would have been amazing if you got past them.

Unlucky mate, you can still garner some great money in the EL though!

We get the football league off with an efficient victory over Patrick Thistle, Demetri Mitchell scoring in his first outing in the Premier League, firing a warning shot at the other teams defences. He is going to be a real handful in this division and looks set for a bright future at Berwick already.


Back to back victories has the early running continuing our good fortune in the top flight and a first goal for Gabby Agbondlahor shows that the veteran striker still knows his way to the back of the net. The former Villa frontman has been thrust into the spot light upon his arrival following an injury to Andy Vaughan but appears to be relishing the opportunity.


The mini run of form comes to an end at the hands of the reigning title holders, Celtic. Having pipped us to not only the league title but also the Scottish Cup they certainly gave us a lesson in humility at the end of the season and Paul Lamberts men look keen to re-assert themselves as the dominant force in Scottish football.


Having kissed a quick goodbye to the Champions League we are quickly back into European football as we attempt to qualify for the Europa League. Belgian outfit, Club Brugge greeted us to the competition and any worries of another quick exit were soon removed as we held on to a one goal lead following goals from our impressive midfield duo, O'Hanlon and Donohue.


Back to the league and a lifeless draw soon has us crashing back to reality following our glitzy tie in the Europa League. A red card for Dean Parrett summed up a frustrating afternoon for the Borderers as we struggled to even trouble Hib's defence but non the less we will take a welcome point on the road.


We round off the qualifying round with an unexpected victory in Europe as we overcome Club Brugge in the second half. Demetri Mitchell continues to impress as he ties up the game, whilst a rare goal from central defender, Dunkley gave us a clear path into the group stages. It might not be the Champions League but its still an impressive feat for the Northumbrian minnows.


Final game of the month is a goal fest between the Borderers and Dundee United. An end to end game went down to the wire with us eventually fortunate to salvage a point as a cruel own-goal just six minutes from time eventually tied things up. There were alot of tired legs out on the pitch by the final whistle, slightly worried I might be stretching this team too much with addition of European football. Early days yet though.


One month into the season and we are exactly where I want us to be. European qualification is the aim again this season following our impressive debut in the top flight and with Scotland recieveing a relative boat load of qualification spots anything in the top five should see us atleast pick up a spot in the Europa League.

Valencia are the clear favourites in the group, The Spaniards will be keen to make a clean sweep in the group stages, whilst the Easter Europeans, Steaua Bucharest and Viktoria Plzen will both be looking to fight it out for the second place in the group and an unexpected spot in the latter stages.
For Berwick, well quite frankly we are just happy to be here but we are more then capable of picking up some points against Steaua and Plzen and if we can play at our best that second place is certainly within our reach.



A disappointing day at Shielfield Park as we totally collapse in the second half, allowing Aberdeen to smash home three goals past our hapless defence. The boys definitley look to be tailing off in the latter stages of the matches at the minute, definitely need to get their fitness built up quickly.


Our first game of the group stages is certainly a baptism of fire as we make the journey to Nuevo Mastalla, the home of Valencia. Its a far cry from our home back in the Four Thousand seater Shielfield Park but we don't seem to be too fazed by it keeping up with the pace of one of La Ligas biggest teams only losing out to just one well worked goal. We might have lost but we more then proved we are not our of our depth.


On the back of a strong showing in Europe we return to Scotland in high spirits and knock out the Championships Ross County in efficient style as Gabby picks up his second of the season whilst a well placed free kick from Loftus-Cheek sends us into the next round. The former Chelsea midfielder has been largely wasteful with set-pieces but when they find the net, they sure are special.


A single goal is all that's required to see off Motherwell, with Demetri Mitchell continuing to impress down the left flank. Motherwell are certainly looking a long way short of there best and are looking set to struggle at the bottom end of the table. We will be doing all we can to ensure we do not suffer the same fate.


We might have slipped down the table to the midway point but with a game in hand and the league only two months in we are in a prime position to make a return back into the European spots. It is certainly looking like we are not going to be taking the league by surprise this time around but we are still showing we deserve to be playing continental football.


One game in and we are quickly put to the foot of the table but having got through a game against Valencia with our pride intact we will quickly look to pick up the points and join the race with our next two games. All to play for here as well.