I felt like I was watching two different games. For 45 minutes we absolutely bossed it — Moore and Chermiti at the sharp end, running them ragged and making everything look easy. Honestly, if someone had asked me at half-time what the score would be, I’d have said 4-0 or 5-0. That’s how dominant we were in the opening period.

Moore and Chermiti were outstanding

There’s no getting away from it: both boys were superb. Moore looked lively, confident and a real handful, and Chermiti’s finishing gave us the kind of early lift you dream of in a big game. They kept the tempo high, pressed well and punished the smallest mistakes. You could see why both will be talked about after that spell — they were our best two out there by a clear margin.

Where it went wrong after 50 minutes

The problem wasn’t the forwards, it was how we let the game change. Our midfield dropped too deep after about the 50-minute mark and surrendered the initiative. The press disappeared, the tempo slowed and suddenly the service to Moore and Chermiti dried up. When you stop asking questions of the opposition, you invite them back in. That’s exactly what happened and it’s infuriating because we had them on the ropes.

Takeaway — pride, but frustration too

So yes, proud of the players who put in a shift and especially of the youngsters showing real promise. But we’re also sick that we didn’t finish the job. Moments like that can make a difference in a title race, and it stings that we let chances slip. Still, the individual performances give you hope — Moore looks like he has a huge future — and the only thing to do now is move on and learn from it.

Written by Sir Walter Smith OBE: 13 March 2026

Tags: match-review