Queen of the South were moments away from their first victory over Hearts since 1963 after Ayo Obileye put Queens ahead in the first-half. But a last gasp Liam Boyce penalty levelled things for the Jambos as the two sides walked away with appoint a piece.

 

Allan Johnston made three enforced changes to the side with Aidan Fitzpatrick, Connor Shields and Rhys McCabe all dropping out. Gregor Buchanan and Nortei Nortey returned, while Dapo Mebude made his first start for the club.

 

Queens lined-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Ayo Obileye in the unusual role of holding-midfield along side Nortei Nortey. Mebude led the line, whilst Buchanan partnered Rhys Breen in centre-back for the first time.

 

The Jambos? side was littered with international experience with the likes of Craig Gordon and Boyce both starting.

 

 

The opening 15 minutes were largely a non-event. Both sides enjoyed spells on the ball with neither ?keeper being particularly busy.

 

The main talking point was another injury for Queens and another central midfielder.

 

Already without Joe McKee and McCabe, Dan Pybus was forced off after 16 minutes with a hamstring injury that looks like it may keep him out for a few weeks.

 

The end of the match for Pybus

 

Calvin McGrory was thrust into the action to replace Pybus.

 

The home side continued to put in an astute defensive display limiting to Hearts to virtually no attempts on Rohan Ferguson?s goal.

 

Boyce received the ball on the turn in the box, firing at goal, but Breen was tight to the striker and blocked the effort.

 

Jamie Walker had Hearts? best effort of the opening period with a powerful shot from 18-yards tipped onto the post by Ferguson for his only save of the half

 

After 42 minutes though the deadline was broken by the coolest man in the stadium, Obileye.

 

After Isaiah Jones was brought down by in the area by Stephen Kingsley, Ayo Obileye stepped up and showed brilliant composure to slide past Gordon, sending the international goalie the wrong way.

 

Obileye strokes the penalty home

 

 

A sensational first-half performance that limited Hearts to scraps throughout. A late Obileye penalty gave Queens the lead but there was still a long way to go.

 

The second period was similar to the first. Hearts dictated proceedings but struggled to create anything.

 

Walker had Hearts? first chance of the second-half, albeit a lucky one at that. After working his way in-behind Queens, Buchanan put in a magnificent challenge, although his tackle ricocheted off of Walker only for the ball to fly narrowly wide.

 

The away side continued to control the game with sideways passing but offered virtually nothing in the final third. A trio of quickfire bookings for Craig Halkett, Gordon and Andy Irving added some sort of bite to the game.

 

Halliday and Willie Gibson had a war of words after 81 minutes with the Queens man coming out on top (in my unbiased opinion).

 

Gibson and Halliday have a frank exchange 

 

After an outstanding 90 minutes though, disaster struck.

 

Some brilliant work from Boyce to get ahead of Breen in the box resulted in the Queens defender bringing the Northern Ireland international down.

 

Liam Boyce stepped-up to take the penalty and sent Ferguson the wrong way.

 

Boyce sends Ferguson the wrong way to tie the scores 

 

 

With a much depleted squad, that wasn?t helped by Pybus being forced off, a point against the Hearts was a good result for the Doonhamers.

 

The point takes Queens up to 7^th in the league before Saturday?s clash between Alloa and Arbroath.

 

It?s the long journey north for the South next as they take on Inverness on Wednesday with a 6.30PM kick-off.