A cagey affair at Palmerston between two evenly matched sides ended in a stalemate courtesy of two astute defensive showings.

 

AJ made a double change from midweek with Innes Cameron and Roberto Nditi returning to the starting 11 at the expense of Calvin McGrory and Ruben Soares Junior. Queens continued in a 4-2-3-1 shape with Nditi in midfield, whilst Cameron led the line. It meant Wullie Gibson started in centre-back for the second consecutive game.

 

 

The game had a nice pace to it in the opening 45 with each team looking reasonably dangerous in the final third, without over-committing.

 

After 10 minutes it was Thistle who had the first half-chance of the fixture.

 

Poor control from Gibson allowed Zak Rudden to gain possession in Queens? third, before Sol Brynn came sharply off his line to deny the striker a shot on goal. 

 

Brynn denies Rudden early on

 

Brynn never held it though and Rudden was eventually able to roll a shot towards goal from the tightest of angles, but the ?keeper recovered to deny an opened.

 

That was all Thistle really offered in the first 45 with the South very much in control after this.

 

Ruari Paton rested Jamie Sneddon from just inside the area with a curling effort but the ?keeper got down well to deny Paton a third goal in three games.

 

The Irishman then saw yellow on 20 minutes for an off-the-ball push on Scott Tiffoney, who?d earlier went face-to-face with Harry Cochrane. The Jags winger avoided caution.

 

Queens came closest to taking the lead after 43 minutes however, when Lee Connelly took everyone, including Sneddon, by surprise by striking a shot from the corner of the box. His venomous effort cannoned off the inside of the post, sparing Sneddon?s blushes.

 

A minute late though the same man was denied again by the woodwork. A left-footed strike from 18 yards was tipped onto the bar by Sneddon, leaving Queens to rue their luck.

 

 

Connelly asks Sneddon how on earth he managed to deny a goal

 

HT: Queens 0-0 Thistle 

 

An opening 45 that Queens edged, although with Brian Graham appearing off the bench for the second-half it would only get more difficult.

 

The Jags were in control of proceedings throughout, albeit they offered little of note going forward.

 

It took until 66 minutes before they had an effort on goal, with Kyle Turner not able the generate enough curl from range to bend an effort inside the post.

 

On 70 minutes though they passed up the best chance of the game.

 

A tremendous cross from the right found its way to Graham alone in the area.

 

The Championships second top scorer was only able to direct his volley over the bar from just a couple yards out, to the relief of the Queens defence.

 

 

Graham blasts over from just a few yards out 

 

Queens went close again a minute later as Max Johnston swung a corner in towards the back post in a carbon copy of his cross against Morton.

 

Unlike Jack Hamilton though, Sneddon?s wrists are not made of poppadoms and the goalie got a good hand to the ball.

 

Substitute Cammy Smith was arguably fortunate to avoid an early shower after 75 minutes after his right boot collided with the face of Cochrane.

 

 

Kung Fu Cammy gets a yellow for a throat kick on Cochrane

 

There was certainly no malice in it, and Smith had eyes for the ball, which was perhaps why he only saw yellow. Cochrane was thankfully okay and able to continue.

 

The game continued to ebb and flow until the 84th minute when substitute Ross MacIver made a smart run inside of Gibson.

 

Graham found his stroke-partner, who only really had Brynn to beat, but Alex Cooper managed to get into a fine position to deny what would have likely been the winner.

 

FT: Queens 0-0 Thistle 

 

Take nothing away from the attacks of either side, who each put in solid performances, but the defences we?re confident and composed throughout.

 

Next up for Queens is a Scottish Cup replay with Cove Rangers at Palmerston on Tuesday at 7.45PM.

 

Finlay Jack