Queens continued their perfect start to the Championship campaign with a 2-0 victory against Dumbarton at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium. Goals from Iain Russell and Derek Lyle was enough to move James Fowler`s men to the top of the league table with three games played.

The Doonhamers made two changes to the side that beat Livingston 1-0 at Almondvale last Saturday. New signing Alex Harris, who joined the club on loan from Championship rivals Hibernian earlier this week, started for his full debut for Queens. The other change seen Darren Brownlie come into the heart of the defence after impressing in cup action midweek. Last weeks goal scorer Lewis Kidd dropped to the bench,whilst Dale Hilson couldn`t recover from the knock he suffered on Tuesday evening in time to be in contention for selection.

There were familiar faces in the Dumbarton starting line-up, ex-Queens winger Willie Gibson was a pre-match talking point for the travelling supporters, especially since Gibson scored in both of The Sons Championship league games. Other names that interested the Queens fans were the experienced Steven Craig and Mark Brown. Dumbarton came into the match also with a 100% record for the 2015/2016 season, so something had to give today.

Queens lined up in 4-4-2 formation, with Dowie moving to right-back and Iain Russell partnering Derek Lyle to complete the visitors strike force. It was an encouraging start to the game for Queens as ex-Son Iain Russell burst forward in the opening seconds and found Mark Millar  inside the Dumbarton box but his header was blocked by teammate Lyle. Lyle tried to control the ball but the assistant referee`s flag was up for offside.

It only took the men in all blue another minute to carve out the first shot of the day, Millar found space just outside the box and lined up a 20-yard shot but the his strike couldn`t test Dumbarton goalkeeper Mark Brown.

The hosts had the first shot on target of the match. A needless foul 25 yards out let Willie Gibson line up a free-kick but Gibson couldn`t make it three goals in successive league games as he was denied by  Robbie Thomson fingertip save. From the resulting corner, Dumbarton threatened again, a front post glancing header from Craig was just wide.

Robbie Thomson denies Willie Gibson

 

From the goal kick, Queens kept the ball well and after a fine pass from Millar to Lyle, the hitman touched the ball ahead of Taggart and passed to Ryan Conroy but his curling effort fell just inches wide of the post. It was an entertaining opening 15 minutes of the match with Queens looking dangerous from nice one-two football from Russell and Harris.

Loan signing Harris was looking sharp and lively as shuffled past challenges from Cawley and Taggart. It was only the end product that was missing for the winger but the confidence was growing for the Doonhamers with them dominating possession but like last week it seemed they couldn`t take advantage.

The deadlock was nearly broken in the 20th minute as a superb Mark Millar free-kick found the head of captain Chris Higgins but he couldn`t keep his header down and went over ex-Ross County goalkeeper Brown`s net.

Iain Russell was causing the Dumbarton defence all sorts of problems and from a terrific run he was body checked by Gregor Buchanan Queens won a free-kick in a range where we know Ryan Conroy is deadly from. However, it wouldn`t be Conroy`s third goal of the season as his free-kick trickled wide. Even though Queens were missing chances it was positive signs that if anyone was going to take the lead it would be the visitors.

Fowler`s men continued to pile the pressure on the Dumbarton defence with Russell being a constant nuisance. From his run he slipped in Harris just inside the box, but his shot was blocked by Buchanan. Queens grew more and more in confidence and should have been ahead after fast link-up play from Jacobs and Conroy fed Lyle through on goal but The Tan Man couldn`t direct his shot on target and drifted wide.

The goal that Queens deserved finally came in 41st minute. After Mark Millar`s deep corner forced Brown into punching the ball just outside the right hand side of the box, the ball fell to the feet of Harris and his cross found Russell unmarked and he made no mistake this time and tapped in from three yards out. It`s been a great start to the season for Russell with three league goals to his name.

Russell nets..............

...........and celebrates

1-0 QUEENS!

Queens kept up the fine performance for the remaining few minutes of the half however Queens fans were concerned when Kyle Jacobs hobbled off the pitch for half time after a meaty challenge.

HALF TIME -Dumbarton 0-1 QUEENS!

Jacobs returned to the pitch with the rest of the Queens team for the second half and it was the South African who was centre of attention from the kick-off after bringing down Gallagher and picked up a caution for his troubles. From the resulting free-kick Queens struggled to clear the ball out of the box until a stretched Jordan Marshall just managed to knock the ball out of play.

The hosts were starting to apply pressure as Cawley and Gallagher linked up well but couldn`t find the final pass to attempt a shot that would trouble Queens number one Thomson. It seemed Stephen Aitken`s half time team talk had fired up his side after Gibson switched the ball to Cawley and his dangerous cross nearly found Fleming but Higgins intercepted just before Fleming could pounce. From Higgins interception Queens started to keep the ball on the ground and started to show the same slick passing movements from the first half.

Mark Millar skilfully passed the ball to Ryan Conroy, and just as Queens fans thought the midfielder would double the visitors lead his shot somehow drifted wide past the post.

A counter attack from Dumbarton led to Taggart swinging in a cross from the right hand side but again Thomson collected the ball alongside a cut just above his eye after a coming together with Craig. After some medical attention, the decision was that Thomson couldn`t continue. Substitute goalkeeper James Atkinson replaced Thomson for his first appearance this season.

The stoppage seemed to give Queens a new lease of life. A nice worked out move from Dowie and Conroy fell to Lyle and his inch-perfect cross found Kyle Jacobs in the centre of the box but he couldn`t control the ball well enough and the attack was cleared.
Queens managed to double the lead with 18 minutes remaining. Mark Millar whipped in a magical cross which found Derek Lyle and he headed past the hapless Mark Brown from three yards out, for his fifth goal of the season. `The Tan Man` has continued his fine form from last season and he is certainly showing why he is being inducted into the Queens Hall of Fame.

Lyle beats Brown to the cross to score........

.........then enjoys his celebration in front of the Sons stand

QUEENS 2-0!
After The Doonhamers second they made two changes. Kyle Hutton and Lewis Kidd replaced Kyle Jacobs and Alex Harris. Jacobs and Harris had very impressive games especially Harris who looks to be a great addition to the squad and could produce some exciting moments in blue and white.
The Dumbarton defence would have been pleased to see the back of Alex Harris but Iain Russell reminded them that he was still on the pitch. Russell found space in the Dumbarton penatly box but he couldn`t find enough power in his shot and his effort was comfortably caught by the goalkeeper.
In the final moments of the game Queens looked comfortable on the ball which frustrated the Dumbarton faithful. The Doonhamers ran down the clock and picked up another three points and continued their fantastic start to the season.
For the second Saturday night running, Queens are sitting top of the Championship league table and depending on Sunday`s result at Ibrox we could remain there for a while longer.
Next up for Queens in the Championship is Glasgow Rangers at home on Sunday but we do have a midweek League Cup fixture on Tuesday evening, against  Jim Duffy`s Greenock Morton.