| Albion Rovers |
| Queen's Park |
| 2 |
| 1 |
| (Walker 2) |
| (Canning pen) |
| Queen's suffered one of their poorest results of the season in going down to much-improved Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill. What was most galling about the defeat was that for a large part of the game, we didn't play badly at all. Falling behind early in the second half was the spark for a long period where Queen's were camped inside the Rovers half, and they finally got their reward thanks to a penalty. Yet our downfall would come through individual error, and a heavy blow to our play-off hopes was dealt. Rovers had, in their sharp, bustling attack, the kind of speed in their buildup that even at our best we rarely possess; while in our team, though not both from the start, were two players- Murray and Dunn- who for differing, in fact opposite, reasons, can no longer be considered good enough to play for the club. Murray tries his hardest but is too gauche for this level, giving the ball away continuously, while Dunn seems to have lost the heart to go on. Seeing him train alone both prior to kick-off and at half-time (he came on as a second-half substitute for the injured Agostini) was a dispiriting sight. Rightly or wrongly, it suggested that he has little point of contact with his teammates- and it was his sluggishness on the park that led to the Rovers winner. There were much better players in the team, particularly Paul Cairney who ran the show in the early part of the second half. We also weren't helped both by the bumpy pitch and by second half injuries to David Crawford, who bravely carried on, and Damiano Agostini. But the main concern, apart from the inadequacies of the above players (who in any case, arent first picks), is that we are not lethal enough in front of goal. How we could have done with Frankie Carroll, who had to sport a bobble hat instead of his boots at the game. His re-introduction would give us the energy and finishing power we need through the centre. David Weatherston wasn't even fielded there today, instead roaming down the right-wing, though of course he tends to do the work of 3 men in attack. He needs someone else to help him; when Paul Ronald was forced back by Agostini's injury, he lost his foil upfront. Billy Stark brought back Richard Sinclair into the side, pushing Ronald up to play through the middle, while Paul Cairney finally got his chance to influence matters from his favoured position in central midfield. Supporting Ronald and Weatherston in an attack-minded XI was Tommy Murray, who replaced Richard Bowers. Billy Stark clearly wished to try something fresh but I'd be surprised if he felt that it was a success. A good early cross from Canning forced Ewings into fisting away with Sinclair hovering, then the returning defender nodded just past, this time from a well-flighted Canning free-kick. Rovers first true effort at goal arrived when Murray slipped and Walker hammered the resulting chance well beyond Cairns's left upright. The opening 20 minutes were not pretty viewing. The poor quality of the surface was illustrated when Agostini completely miskicked on the edge of his own half, though thankfully Queen's mopped up to quash the threatened breakaway from Rovers. Two minutes after that, a superb hanging cross from the goalline by Weatherston proved too close to goal for Ronald to reach, despite his full-length dive, and Ferry bashed the ball miles over when it landed at the back post. Queen's had a penalty claim dismissed in the 32nd minute when Murray's attempted cross came back off Moffat's raised arm. The away crowd's restlessness with referee Charleston increased when, after Nicoll blatantly bundled Ferry over in midfield, the official could only find time to speak to Kettlewell for his admittedly petulant kick at Nicol's behind with the ball. A great long pass from Ferry found Weatherston making a diagonal run in the 35th minute, and David's powerful drive was pushed round the post by Ewings. Nothing came of the corner, but Queen's were looking a good deal more cohesive and, after corner from Canning with 2 minutes till the break, either Ronald or Sinclair should probably have done more with the loose ball inside the area. Nicoll was booked at last just before half-time for a trip on Cairney, before Tommy Murray followed suit with an obvious trip on Walker as the latter advanced dangerously forward. Queen's began the second-half quickly, and the rest of the game would be played at a brisk tempo as both sides went for it. For much of what remained, it was Queen's who attacked, and Weatherston was first to make headway when he collected Kettlewell's pass, took a man on the outside down the right and won a corner kick. That posed no problems for Rovers, and they pushed forward themselves. Canning was given some bother by a lively attacker on the left of the box, and then after Queen's had failed to get going again, Rovers opened the scoring. The ball was moved out to the right of the box, and when the ball was swept over no-one was picking up Walker. The striker had time to wave to the crowd and light up his pipe before heading firmly home at the right-hand post beyond Crawford's despairing dive. Without doubt somebody, Canning probably, should have been much more alert to the danger. So we had given ourselves an almighty task, at a ground where we hardly ever do well. The players responded though, and played genuinely attractive and intelligent football over the course of the next 20 minutes. We should have been level before Canning's penalty got us there, but we should also have been well capable of building from that position and winning the game. We were not. In the meantime we surged towards the home goal. Two shots from Mark Ferry signalled our intentions, both of them set-up by the unleashed Paul Cairney. He had looked a little unsure of himself on the right in the last 2 games, and even during the first-half of this one. But after half-time, he roared us on, bursting into the opposition half and constantly finding good passes. Ferry had already delayed far too long before having a go in the 55th minute, but only a minute later he had an effort deflected just wide. Then Cairney's neat footwork on the left led to him finding Mark again, and his clever shot took a touch in arching just wide. 6 minutes later we came close again. An injury to Stuart Kettlewell didn't stop Queen's from dispossessing Rovers and finding David Weatherston charging through. He looked suspiciously offside but went away down the left, finding Paul Ronald arriving on the edge of the area, and Paul should have done better than have his shot charged down so quickly. Yet within a minute, the big man was desperately unlucky not to score, meeting Canning's corner firmly only to see his header cleared at the post. Ronald was again involved in the build-up to Queen's equaliser just 2 minutes later. Ronald challenged for a cross from the right, and the ball seemed to strike a hand inside the box. The referee gave the penalty and, after a nervy wait, stand-in taker Canning rolled the ball in at the right-hand post. Queen's should have gone from strength to strength now, yet some unfortunate incidents would conspire against them. Two minutes after the goal, David Crawford slipped as he came to collect a high ball, and while the ball was shepherded harmlessly out, more harm had certainly been done to Crawford's ankle. After treatment, he bravely elected to continue. Yet the confidence of the defence may well have been shaken by his injury, and certainly Rovers, as so often, saw a potential weak spot and went straight for it. Crawford was forced into making two good saves as Rovers pressed, while another drive was blocked before it could reach him. Injury would lay claim to another Queen's player with a quarter of an hour remaining when Agostini went off, Robert Dunn being his replacement. Obviously Dunn couldn't go to the back yet he may not have been capable of worse there than he achieved in midfield. Scarcely finding a man accurately in the short time he was on, he also managed to play a part in the goal that lost the game for Queen's. While his entry wasn't ideal, just as bad was Paul Ronald's move into defence, as it lost us some focus up front. The game was still being played at blistering pace, and Rovers looked better suited to this with their lively front men McFarlane, Walker and Smith twisting and turning Queen's. This was all on the break however. Queen's still had most of the possession, and when Kettlewell found Weatherston with 10 minutes left, the latter's delivery should have brought out more from Ferry than a shot hammered over the bar. Dunn then broke down the left wing, and while his cutback was slightly misplaced, Cairney was able to collect before smashing a shot over the top. With Scott Chaplain, Rovers's top scorer this term, then going off the field, it was perverse that the home side should suddenly grab the winner. Of course, they did. Dunn and Weatherston went for the same ball in midfield, with Dunn claiming it; but he quickly gave it away and the ball was smartly turned through for Walker. The striker's finish was superb, turning and giving Crawford little chance of saving, though he did get down manfully. It was nearly too much to take for a Queen's support who've seen so many late Albion Rovers goals at Cliftonhill in the past. A Queen's equaliser would have been far-fetched, and we really didn't threaten one as the players' morale sunk. The game had been snatched away, for we didn't deserve to lose, yet Rovers greater sharpness in the most vital of areas- the penalty area- had won them the match. It can't be forgotten, of course, that we were missing key players from the side, Reilly in particular. Frankie Carroll also comes into that bracket, though his return would be more like signing a new player. On Saturday I questioned whether certain players possessed enough character to win for Queen's Park, and what has happened at Cliftonhill has re-inforced my doubts. Yet without question some of the biggest characters- Reilly, Paton- didn't play in either game. We need them- their influence, their drive. But more than anything we need another option up front. The transfer window has re-opened, and while it will be very hard for Billy to find a saviour, as a talented manager with contacts he can fare better than others would in his position. Perhaps he doesn't need to though. An even greater achievement it might be, but getting Frankie Carroll physically and mentally ready for a first-team comeback would give new hope to everyone, including the players. Frankie is already a hero to the Queen's fans; promotion this season would make him an immortal. Albion Rovers: Jamie Ewings, Gordon Moffat, Tommy Lennox, Gordon Lennon, Stephen Donachy, Kevin Nicoll (Bryan Felvus 90), Trialist, Scott Chaplain (Ian Chisholm 82), David McFarlane, Pat Walker (Martin McBride 87), Brian Smith. Substitutes not used: Andy Sim, Lee Thompson. Booked: Nicoll, Moffat. Goals: Walker 50, 83. Queen's Park: David Crawford, Richard Sinclair, Mick Dunlop, Paul Ronald, Damiano Agostini (Robert Dunn 75), Steven Canning, Stuart Kettlewell, Paul Cairney, Tommy Murray, David Weatherston, Mark Ferry. Substitutes not used: Richard Bowers, David Waters, Chris Colquhoun, Alexander Cowie. Booked: Murray. Goal: Canning 67 penalty. Referee: Craig Charleston. Attendance: 409. |