Queens emerged victorious over Brechin for the second time this season in this hugely entertaining encounter at Glebe Park. There may only have been one goal in the game but it was an excellent contest, played at a frighening pace at times, and with a number of chances at both ends. In the end though Queens just about deserved the points earned courtesy of Jason Kerr`s 4th goal of the season.

The last time Queens achieved three clean sheets in a row in the League was that infamous week in 2015 when Hibernian, Rangers and Falkirk were all beaten in a week to all but clinch a playoff slot. Following the 0-0 draws against Inverness and Dunfermline, manager Gary Naysmith sent out an unchanged side looking to repeat the feat in Brechin. There was one change on the bench though where a knock in training yesterday meant Andy Stirling sat out and was replaced by Jesse Akubuine. Brechin were able to field a much stronger side than the one we faced back in August, though continued to be without main forward Andy Jackson through injury.

The game began at a whirlwind pace as the home side in particular came out of the traps quickly. Inside the first five minutes Jordan Marshall was required to clear Sean Crighton`s goalbound header off the line from a Brechn corner. At the other end soon after Stephen Dobbie could only hit side netting with a free kick after James Dale handled the ball. Back came Brechin and Alan Martin made a good save low to his left to deny Isaac Layne. Queens looked destined to take the lead when Dobbie charged down a clearance and pounced on the loose ball, leaving a three on one situation but his ball to the unmarked Connor Murray just lacked sufficient pace and Sean Crighton got back with a heroic last ditch tackle to get it away for a corner. On the half hour mark following some excellent play down the left side Lyndon Dykes diverted Marshall`s cross towards goal only to be denied by a world class black from Graeme Smith. The resulting corner saw Marshall have his shot charged down. Brechin were very much still a threat themselves though and a clever pass sent Layne clear on goal. He hit early wide of the advancing Alan Martin but also wide of target.

Queens were forced into a change 5 minutes before the break when James McFadden went down holding his hamstring. Derek Lyle replaced him and played up front with Dykes initially as Dobbie dropped into a deeper role. In the final action of the first half Queens forced a couple of corners, the first of which saw Callum Fordyce head against the crossbar whilst the second saw Derek Lyle send a free header wide left.

Just before the interval Jordan Marshall had gone down in obvious pain following a stretching challenge from an opponent and it quickly became apparent at half time that he was unable to continue. That means Queens were forced into a second injury change in 45 minutes as Scott Mercer came on for the second half at left back.

Queens started the second period with a much greater sense of purpose and urgency and Dobbie was soon forcing a block from the defence to deny him a goal. Lyle twice failed with headed chances too before Connor Murray struck a shot over Smith`s crossbar from the edge of the box. The pressure was building but still Brechin were far from out of things either. Isaac Layne forced two more saves from Martin, the first a reasonably routine block from a shot but the second, from a header, was an excellent save from the big keeper.

The deadlock was finally broken on the hour mark after Smith tipped another Lyle header wide. Connor Murray`s corner was partially cleared but when it was helped back into the box and then headed down, the loose ball fell invitingly for Jason Kerr to tuck away the fourth goal of his loan spell from St Johnstone from about 10 yards.

Kerr slams home

Goal celebrations

Celebrations

The home side made three changes in the next few minutes in a bid to get back in to things as Orsi, love and Graham replaced Layne, McLennan and Sinclair, whilst in between Callum tapping became our final change, replacing Connor Murray. There was a scare a few minutes later though when Derek Lyle went down injured but the frontman was able to continue after some treatment. With 7 minutes to go Dobie should have clinched the win when he was sent through on goal but Smith got a partial block on his shot and with the ball still heading towards goal anyway, Derek Lyle was narrowly beaten to it before it crossed the line by a defender.

Sean Crighton needed to leave the field to get a blood injury cleared up but was back before the home side forced a succession of corners in added time, never coming closer than when Aron Lynas` glancing front post header flew across the face of goal with no touch and wide for a goal kick.

Their was controversy at the end though as Jason Kerr and Brechin`s Ally Love jostled over the ball out wide near halfway. Kerr put the ball out for a throw and then played it away as Love tried to grab it quickly resulting in a handbags incident in which Love appeared to barge into Kerr and Kerr shoved him away with his hands on his chest. No blows appeared to be thrown but players from both sides quickly turned it into a melee and when the dust settled referee Craig Charleston decided to red card the two instigators, which seemed harsh from where I was. Never the less, there was no time for Brechin to take advantage of the loss of another defender and the final whistle saw Queens collect a crucial three points. Next up it is back to Palmerston for a visit from what is now Paul Hartley`s Falkirk side. With both sides now having a succession of clean sheets it should be an intriguing contest.

Ally loves a wee head

and follows up with a knee