Manager, James Fowler, made four changes to the side that started the game in Paisley. Club captain, Chris Higgins returned to the defence and there was a first start of the season in goal for Jim Atkinson, whilst loan signing, Andy Murdoch made his Queens debut, and Ryan Conroy, who began on the bench was promoted to the starting line-up. Darren Brownlie, Iain Russell,Robbie Thomson, and Mark Millar were the men to make way. There was also a place on the bench for Callum Tapping who was included in the matchday squad for the first time since the opening league game of the season.

 

Queens kicked off lining up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation and during the early period of the game it was the home side who looked brighter. Their opening attacks all came down the right wing and all involved Ryan Conroy who began the game well. As early as the 3rd minute Conroy had delivered an inviting cross into the box that was only just missed by Derek Lyle, and minutes later the same two players were involved in the action only this time although Lyle met Conroy`s cross, the flag had been raised for offside. Queens continued to ask all the early questions and from a short corner routine Conroy`s attempt was blocked away for another set-piece, and the resulting corner was cleared for a third corner in very quick succession as Queens searched for the early advantage. This time Conroy`s delivery picked out Lyle at the back post and the striker - celebrating his 35th birthday - saw his half volley scrambled clear by `keeper Langfield.

 

It took the visitors 10 minutes before they managed to create a chance, but when they did, they very nearly went ahead. After winning their first corner, Kelly rose well above the home defence to flick a header towards goal, but with Atkinson beaten, the ball was hooked off the line. Moments later and a sweeping move from St.Mirren almost unlocked the Queens defence when Clarkson, and then Cooper so nearly found the onrushing Shankland.

 

The best chance of the opening stages for Queens came on 13 minutes and followed a good move between Conroy and Lewis Kidd that eventually saw Kidd`s cross met by a glancing header from Jake Pickard that landed only inches past the far upright. The sides then exchanged attacks as firstly a free-kick from Mallan from distance caused no problems, and then Lyle saw a header from another corner fly harmlessly over the bar. On 26 minutes the visitors should really have opened the scoring. A long free-kick from Baird cleared all of the Queens defenders and faced with only Atkinson to beat, Shankland got his attempted lob all wrong as his effort cleared both the Queens `keeper and the crossbar much to the relief of all of a blue persuasion amongst the crowd of 1923.

 

The Queens centre midfield pairing of Hutton and Murdoch were having a lot of possession, and Murdoch in particular was showing good awareness and his use of the ball was, by in large, very productive, and it was his good work that ended with Conroy trying his luck from 25 yards although Langfield gathered the shot comfortably, and minutes later Conroy went close again as his left footed drive just drifted wide of the far post. The first caution of the game went to Saints defender Baird for pulling back Pickard as the Queens youngster showed good skill to turn and try to move forward and as the play developed, Conroy and Kidd linked well before Kidd`s deep cross was cleared for yet another Queens corner, which was partially cleared out as far as Murdoch, but unfortunately there was not to be a scoring debut for the Rangers loanee as his low drive was blocked away. Murdoch had a further shooting opportunity moments later when a flowing move involving Jordan Marshall, Harris, and Pickard set him up, but his powerful shot from the edge of the area started wide, and ended wider.

 

Then with the first half nearing it`s conclusion, Queens had their best chance of taking the lead, and not surprisingly, it came from another corner. Conroy`s delivery was met by a powerful header from Lyle and although `keeper Langfield produced a marvellous reaction save the ball came straight back to Kyle Hutton but he could only send his header over the bar. It was one of those chances that seem harder to miss but in fairness to Hutton he had little time to react and so the interval was reached with both `keepers protecting clean sheets.

 

Hutton has no time to react

 

A decent enough first half with both teams thinking that they could have been ahead.

 

 

At the start of play only 2 players in the starting eleven, Lewis Kidd, and Derek Lyle, had scored league goals for Queens this season, and having created some decent chances in the opening period but not being able to convert any, it was a topic of conversation amongst some fans at the break. The second period was slow to get started and the only real noteworthy action saw Lewis Kidd become the second player to find his way into referee Cook`s notebook following a foul on Cooper, and as the half developed, it was the visitors who showed greater intent. Indeed there was to be another let off for Queens when it seemed certain that Saints would be awarded a penalty after Kidd appeared to haul down Mallan but referee Cook looked to have played advantage which clearly didn`t materialise much to the extreme annoyance of the Saints fans and management - particularly Alex Rae who struggled to contain his frustration at the decision. On the hour mark, Jim Atkinson pulled off a decent save to keep out a header from Gallagher and the frustration of that decision going against them was well and truly compounded minutes later when Queens made the breakthrough. Murdoch found room to slip the ball through to Alex Harris just inside the corner of the penalty area and he swivelled and drove a brilliant shot across the diving Langfield and into the bottom corner to score his first goal for the club. It was a cracking way to break the deadlock and a memorable first goal of the season for the on loan Hibs player.

 

Harris beats Langfield

Goal celebrations

 

Queens made their first change on 67 minutes when Iain Russell replaced Ryan Conroy, and their second with 17 minutes to go as Gary Oliver replaced Birthday boy, Derek Lyle, and just a few minutes after that change, St.Mirren were cursing their bad luck again. A deep free kick from Mallan was headed back across goal and from 4 yards out, Watson somehow contrived to knock the ball over the bar. Mallan became the third player to receive a yellow card for a late challenge on Kyle Hutton, a decision that would ultimately be of concern for Saints later in the game. Jake Pickard then showed good pace to break clear and race towards the penalty box and when, a foot inside the area he tumbled to the ground and with most home fans calling for a spot-kick, rather strangely the referee decided that Pickard had been the player who was doing the fouling and the decision went for the visitors. A cross from Kidd was deflected off of the heel of a Saints defender and could have gone anywhere, fortunately for the visitors it slipped a few inches wide of the post.

 

Pickard goes down but is judged to have fouled

 

Steven Thompson was introduced for the final 11 minutes for St.Mirren, and thankfully from a Queens point of view, it was only those final minutes as even in that short time, he could well have had a hat-trick.

With 8 minutes to go Queens made their final change with Kyle Jacobs replacing the impressive, but tiring Andy Murdoch who showed up very well in his first game in Queens colours. As the game moved towards it`s conclusion it could be said that the final few minutes were probably the most exciting. Harris and Russell swapped passes inside the box and Harris saw his shot pushed away by Langfield, and when Saints broke quickly and the ball fell nicely for Mallan, last weekend`s goalscorer fizzed a shot only just wide of the post with Atkinson watching on. With just minutes remaining both sides then had really good chances to score, and both hit the woodwork as the result remained in doubt. From a long throw out on the right Thompson rose above everyone to power a header towards the top corner but Atkinson reacted brilliantly to tip the ball over for a corner. The resulting set-piece eventually fell to Clarkson and his precise lob to the far post smacked against the bar and was hastily cleared by a thankful Queens defence. In the very next attack from Queens they thought they had got themselves a second goal when Oliver`s good approach play set up Harris but although his shot across goal beat Langfield, it crashed back off the post. Even then the chance was still on for Queens as the ball fell into the path of Iain Russell, but his first time shot from a tight angle was knocked clear by the recovering Saints defender Baird. Jake Pickard became the second Queens player to be booked following a late tackle late in the game.

 

Atkinson earns his start

 

Thompson then fired a shot only just wide as Saints broke quickly, but the final action of the game saw Mallan receive a second yellow card for what was an untidy challenge on Russell - not really a bearing on this game, but a significant loss for St.Mirren in the games to come.

 

Jordan Marshall was chosen as Man-of-the-match, as Queens claimed fourth place outright following Raith`s draw at Falkirk. Plenty of positives from a solid performance as we look forward to taking on league leaders Rangers next weekend.