Queen of the South made the arduous 200 mile-plus journey to the highlands, to take on Inverness. On what was a magnificently beautiful day up north, Alan Johnston unsurprisingly opted for the same team that won their first league game of the season last week against Morton. Queens? record at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium last season was pretty good, with a 0-0 draw in September followed by a 2-1 victory in January. However, the home side have been in ominous home form recently, with a 100% record at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium so far this season.
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Like last week, it was a 4-4-2 formation with Faissal El Bakhtaoui playing on the left-wing, while Gary Oliver partnered Stephen Dobbie up-front.
A minutes applause was held before the game in memory of Fernando Ricksen, who sadly passed away after his inspirational and courageous battle with MND came to an end on Wednesday.
A minutes applause from the Queens starting eleven
Stephen Dobbie, who was a Rangers youth player during Ricksens era, seen plenty of the ball in the opening minutes, going on dangerous runs, without being able to test Mark Ridgers in the Caley goal. It took both teams 10 minutes or so to find their feet, with Lewis Kidd and Sean Welsh central to the good work done by either side.
The games first real chance resulted in the games first goal. Unfortunately for the visitors, it was the highlanders that took the lead. A cross into the area was controlled by Jordan White, who laid the ball off to Sean Welsh, with the midfielder striking a powerful volley from 22-yards low into corner. There was nothing Robby McCrorie could do about it, such was the quality of the strike.
McCrorie cant get to the strike
Moments later, Queens had a glorious chance to equalise, with Faissal El Bakhtaoui finding himself in behind the Caley defence, however after cutting inside onto his right-foot, his tame effort didn?t trouble Ridgers.
El Bakhtaoui puts his one-on-one effort well wide
The away team were made to pay for it, with Inverness doubling their lead on 19 minutes. A cross in the area was headed away as far as the impressive Tom Walsh, who unleashed a first-time volley inside the area, giving McCrorie absolutely no chance.
Donaldson clearly fouled Dobbie as he broke through on goal, nothing was given and the ball ended up at the other end in the net
Two goals in four minutes took everyone by shock simply due to how even the game was in the opening quarter.
Inverness almost made it three 10 minutes before half-time, another corner that Queens failed to clear fell to Walsh on the edge of the area whose volley was brilliantly saved by McCrorie. The home team were then awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, in quite literally the perfect place for a right-footer. Welsh stood up to take it, but again McCrorie was there to make a magnificent save to keep the score down.
Another superb stop from McCrorie
HT: ICT 2-0 QoS
Inverness probably had the better period of the sides, however Queens did have chances themselves. Robby McCrorie was exceptional in goals, although there was absolutely nothing he could do about either goal.
The second-half got underway like the first-half ended, with another long-range Inverness strike. It was Walsh again, however his effort was blocked by Lee Kilday. From the resulting corner, Jordan White struck the bar with a looping header, before Queens were able to clear.
The home side began the second-half with real potency. Donaldson tried his luck from range, but his free-kick was easily collected. Sean Welsh had another effort at McCrorie from 30-yards out, that the ?keeper done well to save, however it left Jordan White with what seemed like the simplest of tap-ins. Although somehow the six-foot-plus striker managed to hit his free, six-yard effort straight at McCrorie.
Queens made their first change on 54 minutes, with Michael Paton replacing Gary Oliver. A trio of Inverness corners didn?t cause Queens any issues, and the visitors began to grow back into the match after.
On 64 minutes, Paton played a delightful chipped pass through to El Bakhtaoui, however the Frenchman?s first touch was poor, and Ridgers was able to collect. Jack Hamilton replaced Connor Murray after 64 minutes, and not long after had a well struck header saved by Ridgers.
Ridgers denies El Bakhtaoui
The last 10 minutes were somewhat uneventful. A few long-range efforts from Dobbie and Aaron Doran caused neither ?keeper any issue.
Right in the dying embers Shaun Rooney went on a powerful run, striding past the whole Queens side, however he wasn?t able to test McCrorie.
FT: ICT 2-0 QoS
A poor performance from Queens who, despite a solid first-half showing, never really looked like getting back into the game after the interval.
Queens drop a place to eighth in the Championship, with five points from six games.
It?s Friday night football at Palmerston this Friday as Dundee travel to Dumfries. Remember it?s a 7.05PM kick-off, on front of the BBC Scotland cameras.
Finlay Jack