After an enforced break due to the weather last week, we travel to Clackmannanshire tomorrow for our Championship game against Alloa Athletic.
We didn’t have a good record against the hosts going seven games without a win between 2016 and 2020, before goals from Gregor Buchanan and Joe McKee put an end to that unwanted record in November. A first half Buchanan header nestled its way into the top corner before McKee whipped a wicked free-kick past the helpless Neil Parry in a 2-0 win.
We were undefeated throughout January, for the first time in eight years, the last man to achieve that feat as Queens Manager was Allan Johnston himself in 2013. Coincidentally, our first game in February 2013 was a 0-0 draw against Alloa, a week after a Queens’ trip to Brechin was postponed.
Our hosts lie at the foot of the table, only picking up two wins in the league this season. Despite Alan Trouten scoring a potential goal of the season from 40-yards last week, Alloa lost 4-1 at Somerset Park to Ayr United. The Wasps will be at near full strength tomorrow – only Scott Taggart is expected to miss out.
On a run of form that hasn’t seen us lose since Boxing Day, last week’s postponement arguably came at the worst time. However, with the squad plagued by injuries in recent weeks it has given some players extra time to get back to full fitness. Stephen Dobbie missed the win against Morton due to a groin injury, while Buchanan was missing with a heel injury. Joe McKee (calf) was also absent, as were goalkeepers Jack Leighfield (knee), Charlie Cowie (hip) and Dan Armstrong (arm).
Rhys Breen and Dapo Mebude made their debuts against the Ton and there could be a debut for Isaiah Jones at Alloa, after he joined on loan from Middlesbrough at the end of last week. Joshua Rae will remain on loan for another seven days from Peterhead to provide depth in the goalkeeping department. Harry Robinson has returned to Motherwell after his loan deal was cut short on deadline day.
Looking ahead to the game Manager Allan Johnston said “We have had another good week in training, the players are confident at the moment and spirits are high.
Our recent run of form has given us the opportunity to drag teams back into the mix and allowed us to really look up the way so we need to keep the consistency going. The Championship is such a tight league so we won’t get carried away but we can be happy with the way things are going and we will look to maintain the momentum.
Alloa are part-time and bottom of the table but have shown not just this season but also in previous years that they can hold their own in the league and on their day can compete and pick up results the same as everyone else. So we will prepare right and go there looking for a result that will hopefully increase the gap between us”.
Alloa have produced a match-day programme that you can purchase via their website www.alloaathletic.co.uk
The match will be streamed live at a cost of £12. The PPV ticket will also allow you to access the recording of the game by the above link once the event is finished. You can only access the stream on one device at a time.
HOW TO SIGN UP:
Step 1 – REGISTER –
live.alloaathletic.co.uk/outside/register
or LOGIN if you already have an account. live.alloaathletic.co.uk/outside/login
Step 2 – Buy on the event page
https://live.alloaathletic.co.uk/event/60192ddb4deb7d232a01b601
Step 3 –
Go to the event page after 14:30 and the banner will be replaced by a video player. (While you’re logged in on the account you bought your ticket of course!)
Known Issues
Sound synchronisation – All of the teams using Univtec (via Pixellot) have experienced some intermittent issues with the sound getting de-synchronised. We have a different delivery method which has at least reduced the incidence of this issue.
Pixellot only stream – A bug has been documented where the live stream is only providing the pixellot camera. If you have this bug then refresh your browser. If you still do not receive the commentary and replays refresh your cache and/or try another browser or device.
Any Other Issues
Please provide screenshots or recordings of any other issues and send them to [email protected]
Other vital details to provide are the make and model of your device and the browser you’re using.
KICK OFF: 3pm Saturday.