QOSQOS

OK, if we’re having a vote on the important topic of best routes to Dumfries, I’ve always liked the Dalveen Pass, the scenery is breathtaking. Less popular with some of my passengers…. And I’ve done the Moffat road a zillion times, I like it. I once picked up a Canadian cousin at Edinburgh and took her down for her first ever visit to Dumfries. Went the Moffat road for the scenery, my cousin spent the journey with her head down, couldn’t cope with the windy roads or ups and downs.

Well, boring it wasn’t. Thought Todd played very well, and I agree Reilly looked very sharp, back to the Reilly from a few years ago. Cochrane was having a nightmare until his goal, maybe that will give him confidence. Although I still wouldn’t start him Tuesday. Could and should have been a win, but it would have surprised nobody had we lost….

Yes, I misread Wiki who were listing league goals, too early in morning to engage brain….. Apart from his goals, his hold-up play and lay-offs were good last night as well, albeit he was only on the park for a short time.

Watching the footie last night, and enjoying Dykes contribution, I was reflecting on the fact that in three years with us, Dykes scored 11 goals, and were any of them headers? I don’t recall any, but I’m not sure. He clearly worked as a foil to a certain S Dobbie, so his contribution overall was good. But last night was just awesome…..

I can’t see it happening, another year has passed. But I couldn’t help think it would be good to give him a cameo against Falkirk, didn’t he have a very good record against them…..?! Only joking

I’m happy with the management team. There was enough in the new manager ‘bounce’ and the last 3 games to encourage, and aside from the Arbroath game we were a bit unlucky in that losing streak in the middle. Willie interviews well, and frankly there was no-one else out there that excites. Roll on next season, when do season tickets go on sale? After decades of watching Queens, you’d think my hopeless optimism would have been been cured by now…..!

How many Queens fans there tonight? I was watching on PPV, still can’t believe we conceded first and still won. Good second half for us. Rode our luck at the back but could/should have scored more.

Still no highlights?

Dare I ask when highlights might be available? Anywhere?

Re the penalty, what are the thoughts of the PPV audience? Being at the game, I got one look from distance, but it fell into the ‘soft’ category. Defenders should know to be very careful in the box, no nudges or hands on backs. But I don’t know how culpable Debayo was. Was disappointed in our second half performance. After edging the first half, we just didn’t do it in the second half. Hard work and team spirit can get you so far, maybe we just run out of legs a bit after 4 games in 8 days. The pitch drained us! (QOS fan complains about someone else’s pitch…..). And to be fair, Thistle clearly better than Morton or Ayr (OK, that’s a low bar), I think they’re in a 3 way race for the title.

Couple of observations on the game (after rewatching). Early on, we cleared one off the line after a corner - because we had a man on the post. We seem to have stopped doing that, glad to see it reinstated. For the second goal, Fitz took off from well inside his own half and burst a gut to get there (leaving a Morton player well behind). It was a perfect ball from Todd, and a great finish, but it was just good to see the hunger to get there.

That felt relatively comfortable for 80 minutes and a nerve shredder in the last 10…. Big 3 points, we’re maybe not doomed after all. Thought Paton had a decent game, or maybe I just noticed the bandage. The commentators were fair, to the point of being over generous to us (and pretty hard on Ayr). We weren’t brilliant but we dug out a result, which would have been beyond us a few weeks ago. Onwards…..

OK, that’s us tightened up at the back, now for some shooting practice…. Fitzpatrick in the first half and Roy in the last minute both had clear sight of goal and both decided to try to beat another man. And McKechnie put it in about the only place the defender could have cleared. Plus Gordon’s shot off the bar - a Gaston save? If this was the first game of the season I’d be feeling confident. However, the way it is we need actual wins. Only 11 games left.

I assume Folarin will need to be played at some point, otherwise he will be recalled by Middlesborough? He had a terrible 45 minutes against Dunfermline but surely there must be a decent player in there? Surely?!? Also shout out to Euan East, he’s being played out of his preferred position but has generally done well. And it must be hard in the defence when our midfield always seems to me overrun.

Well, it wasn’t boring, with those defences it was never going to be 0-0. I was watching the first goal again because a few Queens players were protesting about something. Having watched it several times, I’m not sure what the problem was (apart from a criminal lack of marking). Maybe the first Raith attacker was marginally offside, but didn’t touch it. Zanatta had ambled up from half way unmarked before our defender noticed too late and let him in at the far post. Having conceded the first, most Queens fans thought it was game over, and after the second we were watching out of a sense of duty. Fortunately, our first goal came at the right time, it just gave us some confidence. Bizarre penalty, a complete mess up by O’Connor and totally unnecessary. But well saved. Overall, got to be happy with a point after the start, and we did show a bit of fight.

Early days for Folarin but he looks off the pace. A couple of times he stood watching ( like for the second goal). He seems to be finding our pitch difficult. On one occasion he went past his man with ease then tripped over the ball. But he’s not getting any help from anybody. Our sole tactic seems to kick it up the park and hope for the best. Pretty dismal so far.

Thought it fairly even up until penalty, neither team had got going. Was wondering if it was a second yellow but ref just went for the red, can’t be sure with that guy. Have to see the pen again but I wondered if scorer encroached slightly? Just to add to my list of things to be aggrieved about…..

I see Obileye was MOM for Livi on Saturday and scored with one of his trademark penalties. Apparently he still has never missed a penalty….

Small shout for the much-maligned Cameron, apart from his goal I thought he had one of his best games for us. He was winning the ball and finding a Queens player, must be a new tactic.

I believe we’re up to 9th Well it wasn’t boring, both teams looked incapable of defending.

Re the free kick, I was more annoyed with Nditi for giving it away. When a free kick is bent and goes in off the post, no-one is saving it. Has given Kennedy a lift, he is looking more like the good player he used to be. Unfortunately for us…

Given weather forecast, is there any doubt re this game? Palmie will be playable, it’s just all the travelling I was thinking about. Although first game went ahead in similar circumstances…..

Well I’ve seen more exciting games. Game sort of fizzled out. Thistle had more of the ball last 15 and I was nervous as usual, but we defended well. Given our respective league positions I should be pleased with a point, but we need to get 3 points occasionally. Starting at Dunfermline next week….

The highlights made it look like an exciting game, what were the other 85 minutes like? Couldn’t tell re the first Queens goal. The sending off looked harsh, I suspect it was because he leapt in to trip him up. If only he’d done the ‘professional’ foul a bit more professionally….

Our keeper only slowed it down during the (short) period when we were ahead, which every keeper does in that position. Once the equaliser went in, he was getting the ball back into play asap, including going long for swift counter-attacks. It was interesting first half that every goal kick was played short, which was obviously pre-planned. Always makes me nervous, I know Liverpool and Real Madrid play this way, but our defenders aren’t quite as capable or confident as Liverpool, to put it mildly.