Queens produced an absolutely faultless display this afternoon which saw them crush league leaders Dundee United as they scored four goals without reply in what was clearly their best performance of the season to date. Two goals in each half along with several missed opportunities saw Queens record back-to-back league wins for the first time this season as the visitors had no ideas of how to stop the Queens domination.
VIPs today
Following the victory at Firhill a fortnight ago, Queens named the same starting eleven, and lining up in a 4-1-3-2 formation there was a fluidity about the team and right from the outset you could sense that they were keen to extend their recent unbeaten run. The opening ten or so minutes were fairly even with United looking for the outlet of the pace of McMullan on the right, and Queens relying on the more direct approach of seeking out the aerial ability of Jack Hamilton, and a high hanging cross from Scott Mercer was a test for visiting `keeper Siegrist as he was put under pressure by Hamilton with the outcome being a less than comfortable take for the Dundee United shot stopper.
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Queens first real chance of the game came through Hamilton but not as expected from his head as the young striker showed excellent skill to control the ball and then unleash a powerful shot on the turn that only just cleared the crossbar at the Terregles Street end of the ground, whilst at the other end the visitors first sight of goal ended when Appere skied a shot that actually went over the roof of the covered terracing behind the goal.
Having quite unbelievably not scored a league goal this season, Stephen Dobbie, was soon to address that statistic when on 18 minutes Queens took the lead. W Lee Kilday broke up a Dundee United attack and sent Dobbie on a chase and it seemed as though he was about to get the better of defender Brown, but he was hauled back which resulted in a Queens free-kick. Michael Paton`s deep delivery to the back post was headed back across goal by Darren Brownlie, and standing just a few yards from goal Stephen Dobbie stooped to head - yes, that`s right, head the ball into the empty net.
Dobbie heads the opener
Dobbies first beats Siegrist
Having gained the advantage, Queens, and in particular, Robby McCrorie almost gifted the visitors a way back into the game. The `keeper took a bit too much time when attempting to clear a back pass and as Appere closed in on him, a desperate lunge saw him just make enough contact to clear the ball. The industry of Dan Pybus in midfield, and the willingness to attack and defend by Faissal El Bakhtaoui offered Queens a really positive attacking option, and on 26 minutes the quick thinking of Pybus set up a chance for Kevin Holt when following a quickly taken free-kick Holt was left in acres of space down the left and although his shot left Seigrist grasping at thin air, the ball smashed against the woodwork and Holt was denied his first Queens goal since returning to Palmerston in the summer.
Dobbie has a wee word with Shankland
However, the full-backs first goal wasn`t denied by very long as just before the half an hour mark, Queens doubled their lead. Good work down the left from Dobbie saw us win our first corner of the game and from El Bakhtaoui`s delivery, Kevin Holt rose above the visiting defence to head home into the bottom corner to score for the first time in Queens colours since he found the net against Dumbarton back in April 2015
Holt heads home
Mercer congratulates Holt
A lapse in concentration after the opening goal almost proved costly for Queens, and the same thing happened again following the second goal when a mistake by Kilday let in Appere, but Robby McCrorie stood tall, narrowed the angle and then blocked the striker`s shot to keep his clean sheet intact.
Probably the visitors best chance of the first half came from a free-kick wide on the right when Stanton`s cross picked out Brown, but there was perhaps too much pace on the cross and the defender struggled to get a decent contact with the ball.
The last chance of the half came for Queens and it was very nearly a carbon copy of our second goal. Another excellent set-piece delivery from El Bakhtaoui once again found the head of the diving Holt, but Siegrist just managed to scramble the ball away before it crossed the line, had that effort gone in it would have been really difficult to see the away side coming back from that.
Off the line
The half-time whistle was greeted by a standing ovation from those of us favouring the team in blue&white, but across the pitch the large contingent of travelling `Arabs` were far from happy as their team were facing the prospect of succumbing to a third consecutive away loss.
HALF-TIME QUEENS 2-0 DUNDEE UTD
A big second half for both teams got off to a bit of a cagey start, but 7 minutes in, we had an excellent opportunity to seal the points. Dobbie and Michael Paton combined well and as Paton who led the initial break continued his run into the box, Dobbie delivered a perfect through ball that found Paton, but slightly off balance, and with the angle not in his favour he could only find the side netting.
Paton comes close following a superb flowing attack
That was a big relief for the visitors and they went close to reducing the arrears when Appere found himself in plenty of space, but wasted a really decent chance when he dragged his shot well wide of the target.
Scott Mercer`s dissent saw him become the first player to be carded, and minutes later he was joined in the book by team-mate Dan Pybus whose late challenge on Stanton saw him incur the wrath of referee Duncan.
Former Queens man, Nicky Clark replaced Appere on the hour mark and went close to scoring with his first touch but he could only head Smith`s deep cross wide of the target.
With 20 minutes remaining Queens sealed the win with a well crafted, and well finished goal. Dobbie and El Bakhtaoui - who at times was unplayable today - combined well and when El Bakhtaoui`s pass inside allowed Dobbie to line up a shot, his low effort wrong footed `keeper Siegrist and Queens had themselves a commanding lead.
Dobbie strikes and scores
Dobbies second goal celebrations
The confidence was now flooding through Queens and their already high energy levels seemed to increase as they pushed forward looking for further goals, and it looked as though it wasn`t beyond Queens to add to their total, and sure enough on 77 minutes, goal number four duly arrived. A little piece of `show-boating` from El Bakhtaoui - who had been on the end of some raucous banter from the travelling support - which included a nutmeg, a couple of spins, and a back-heel cushioned control allowed him to set himself up for a shot and although his effort from 20-yards out was powerful and on target, `keeper Siegrist should probably have done better, but he spilled the ball and Michael Paton reacted quicker than anyone to knock the loose ball into the empty net.
Paton strikes
Goal celebrations
That was the first time that Queens had scored 4 goals at home in a league game since beating Ross County back in January, and much like that afternoon although the visitors were not good, the win was purely down to the fact that Queens were much, much better on the day.
As time started to run out, Queens made selective substitutions to take up some time and break the play up, Gary Oliver came on for Jack Hamilton, Abdul Osman replaced Michael Paton, and Connor Murray saw out the last few minutes when he replaced Dan Pybus.
On a day when the whole team performed very highly it would have been difficult to pick out one player, but the sponsors selected Darren Brownlie who alongside Lee Kilday, once again formed a very solid central defensive pairing.
The visitors although heavily beaten still retain top spot but this defeat, their third away defeat without scoring, will have some alarm bells starting to ring, and as for the Championship`s leading scorer, Lawrence Shankland`s only contribution to the game came on 82 minutes when as frustration for him continued, he was booked for attempting to throw Scott Mercer to the ground.....I`m sure he will have better days!!