After a first visit in five years to Dunfermline last week this Saturday sees the return to Palmerston of a side we played just five weeks ago, Stenhousemuir. The league one side were drawn in our group in the new league format of the Betfred Cup and now face us again in the 3rd round of the IRN-BRU cup.
The Opposition
While we progressed through to the quarter finals of the Betfred, Stenhousemuir lost all of their games, finishing bottom of the group.
Their league form has been disapointing too, with just one point from their opening four games, a 2-2 draw last weekend against Airdrie. They did, of course, record a win in this competion to make it to the 3rd round and were one of the sides to face the newly introduced "colts" teams, beating Rangers U21s 3-1.
The team on Saturday is likely to be similar to that which lined up at Palmerston five weeks ago and features two players Queens fans will be familiar with, as well as a "well kent" face in the dugout, David Irons. Only those with good memories will remember David's appearances for Queens, in 79/80, but he will be known to most as the manager of Annan and then Gretna towards the end of their ill-fated time under Brooks Mileson. Raised in Dumfries, Davie has been a regular face in the Palmerston crowd over the years when not playing or coaching elsewhere.
On the wing, Mark Gilhaney is a player we've faced before in his time at other clubs, mainly Dumbarton, who he made over 150 appearances for. Hes a player who seems to have been around forever but is still only 31.
A player who has been around forever (sorry, Colin!) and is even better known to the Queens fans, is local "boy" Colin McMenamin. Like Davie, Colin was raised in Dumfries, but played for several clubs, and against us several times, before pulling on a Queens jersey in 2010, after being made redundant by Dundee when the entered administration. Unfortunately, Colin missed the Challenge Cup final that year having already appeared for Dundee. That competition is, of course, now the IRN-BRU Cup.
The Game
This IRN-BRU Cup 3rd round match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 3rd September at Palmerston. Live updates will be available on the website and on twitter and Facebook. We will also publish pictures through the day on our new Instagram Channel
The Fans
There are no advance ticket sales and the normal ticket procedure applies for tomorrows game and normal league pricing applies, although season tickets are not valid. Full details and pricing can be found here
Away fans will be in the Rosefield Salvage Stand, in the same sections as the last game. Directions on how to get to Palmerston, including parking information, can be found here
Never been to Palmerston before? Read our First Time Fan Guide
The Manager
"This week, we take a break from the league as we attempt to make it into the next round of the Irn Bru Cup. It’s a tournament that Queens have a good record in, so we want to keep that going. There are four trophies up for grabs this season and we want to do well in them all.
Stenhousemuir are back in Dumfries, they gave us a tough test when they were here a few weeks ago in the Betfred Cup. We weren’t at our best that day but they made it hard for us and I expect it to be another tough match on Saturday. We will give them the respect they deserve but we certainly hope to be the team that’s in the draw for the next round.
As we start September, we can look back on the season so far and say we’ve made a good start, but that’s all it is, a start.
Last week’s win over Dunfermline was a satisfying one, we perhaps didn’t play to our best, but to show the will to win the game in the way that we did was pleasing.
We talk about five minute periods in football, the first five, five before half time, just after half time and at the end being stages in games when a lot of the action happens. And for us last week at East End Park, Derek Lyle got the goal right on half time and Jamie Hamill made a goal-line clearance at the end, both crucial moments in the game.
To take ten points from twelve during August and the work rate we’ve shown, I’m delighted. However, we won’t get carried away, as we strive for perfection, we know there’s improvements we want to make.
Last week’s winner was Derek’s 100th goal for the club. It may have looked like a tap in but I saw it as reward for his clever play and movement. I’m glad he’s reached the milestone and got it out of the way and I’m sure there will be plenty more to come from him.
Robbie Thomson has now left the club, we agreed that in terms of his own career it was the best thing for him. We have the utmost respect for him as a professional and we all wish him well for the future."
The Team
Lyndon Dykes was stretchered off last week but his injury isn't as bad as it first looked and he along with a couple of others will be assessed in the morning.
The Officials
Referee : Greg Aitken
Assistant 1 : Stuart Hodge
Assistant 2 : Michael Banks
The Stats
The most recent game between the two teams is, of course, the one five weeks ago where Queens came out on top, 1-0, thanks to a cross-come-shot by Jamie Hamill.
Stenhousemuir are a side we generally have a good record against, with 28 wins at Palmerston to 19 and 26 wins at Ochilview to 21. In fact, you have to go back to 2001 to find the last Stenhousemuir win at Palmerston.
Most Queens fans, though, will remember the last defeat at Ochilview. It ended a 20 match unbeaten run, shortly after Alan Johnstons side had clinched the Division 2 title, and was one of only two league defeats all season.