The points were shared in this afternoons Championship clash at Palmerston as both sides failed to find a goal, and on a day that kept many away from the game due to the horrendous weather conditions, it was Queens who were more happy with the outcome as most of the game was dominated by the visitors who had several really good opportunities to collect all 3 points. There were two main reasons that Queens were able to cling on to a point, firstly, Alan Martin`s performance was exceptional, and secondly Dunfermline although on top for large parts of the game, continued to waste very good opportunities as they mastered the poor weather conditions much better than Queens did.
After gaining an excellent point up in Dingwall last time out, Queens made just one change to their starting line-up as Gary Harkins returned to the team with David Norman dropping to the bench to accommodate the change. There was also a change to the formation as Gary Naysmith elected to start with a 4-2-1-3, with Gary Harkins sitting in behind a front three of Josh Todd, Lyndon Dykes, and Adam Frizzell who started at Palmerston for the first time. Former Queens players, Lee Robinson and Joe Thomson lined up in opposition for Dunfermline who were unbeaten in their last 5 visits to Palmerston.
The swirling wind and driving rain made conditions really difficult for both teams, but with the wind at their backs, it was the visitors who adapted better and with Higginbotham, and Thomson dominating the midfield area, they had significantly more of the ball, although at that point they had not troubled Alan Martin. The first half chance came against the run of play and it came courtesy of a Dunfermline mistake. Robinson didn`t get enough distance on his low clearance and with the `keeper out of position, Frizzell tried a first time shot from just inside the Pars half, but he was unlucky to see his effort go just past the unguarded goal. That effort came on 9 minutes, and from that moment on, most of the play took place in the Queens half as Dunfermline took control. Neat approach play allowed Thomson the chance to shoot, and from a central position some 25 yards out his effort saw Alan Martin produce a really good save as he tipped the ball over the bar to give the visitors the first of a series of corners, none of which caused any real difficulties for the Queens defence.
Martin tips an effort over the bar
The Queens `keeper was called into action moments later when he dived to push away a header from Beadling, and then, following another corner Devine got his head to the ball but under pressure could only power his attempt high over the bar. Another patient build up saw Dunfermline work another opportunity to shoot but Keena was unable to produce a telling end to the move.Queens were struggling to get forward and it was difficult to tell if it was due to playing against a well organised visiting team, or playing against a strong gusting wind, but as an attacking force, Queens barely threatened.
Another shot from Thomson drifted over the bar, and on 37 minutes Alan Martin was once again called into action as this time he got down well to hold on to a stinging drive from Higginbotham that could easily have crept in at the near post.
Just before the interval Queens went very close to taking what would have been an unlikely lead based on the way the first half had gone.A quick break down the left led by Jordan Marshall ended with Queens being awarded a free-kick, and when the delivery from Harkins was met by Callum Semple he was unlucky to see his glancing header fall just the wrong side of the far post. That would have been a really good way to end the half for Queens who for much of the opening 45 minutes struggled to prevent the visitors from dictating proceedings.
Dykes is urged on by the manager
HALF-TIME QUEENS 0-0 DUNFERMLINE
There was no change in personnel at the break for Queens, but there was a change in formation as a switch to a 4-2-3-1 system saw Gary Harkins move up front to spearhead the attack, swapping roles with Lyndon Dykes. An early free-kick gave Queens the chance to put pressure on the away team, but from 30-yards out on the left, Harkins elected to shoot and pulled his effort well wide of the target. However, Queens had started the half well and a quick break from Marshall saw him slip a well weighted pass inside to Dykes, but although the striker connected well with the ball, his shot flew wide.Just when it seemed as though it had been the weather that had been the reason that Queens had struggled in the first half and that play was starting to even out, the visitors once again took a grip on the game as they began to put more pressure on the Queens rearguard. A shot from El Bakhtaoui went narrowly wide, and following another corner Semple did well to clear the ball ahead of a challenge from Devine.
Frizzell twists and turns
Queens made their first change on the hour when David Norman replaced Adam Frizzell who, unfortunately had struggled to get into the game. A superb block by Callum Fordyce prevented a shot from Beadling finding it`s way into the net, and as Queens came under more pressure a low shot across goal from the right by Keena very nearly crept in at the far post. The Dunfermline striker was in the action minutes later when his right foot drive looked to be heading in, but once again Alan Martin produced another really good stop.
A quick counter-attack was only halted when Lyndon Dykes pulled the Dunfermline player making the break by the shirt, and that saw Dykes become the first player to be booked in the game, as he collected his 5th yellow card of the season.Queens then turned to the bench for the second time for the final 10 minutes when Connor Murray replaced Harkins. Three minutes from the end, a move down the right ended with the ball being worked onto Dykes, but on the turn he fired his shot high into the Portland Drive terracing.
Dykes sends in a shot
Having played so poorly Queens will be thankful that they did at least manage to take something from the game, but ultimately the penultimate home game of 2018 won`t stay in the memory for very long as once again - for the 3rd game running at Palmerston - Queens and Dunfermline failed to produce a goal between them. Alan Martin was named as man-of-the-match, but the real award should have gone to all of the brave 727 - including a brilliant 74 who came down from Fife- supporters who turned out on such an awful winters afternoon.