A goal in each half, one from Kevin Holt, and one from Gavin Reilly saw Queens record a famous, and very well deserved 2-0 win over Rangers in tonight`s Championship clash at Palmerston. The victory, which was Queens` first league triumph against Rangers in a league match at home since 1955 was no more than the home side deserved, and infact they had several chances to make the scoreline more comfortable.On a cold night in Dumfries, Queens deserve huge credit for producing such a dominant performance and for those in the crowd of 6185 who braved the elements, and those who watched the game via BT Sport, and listened to the commentary provided by BBC Radio Scotland the encounter between two of the top three sides in the division was full of drama, and excitement,as the teams battled to win the three points.
After last weekend`s reversal away at Hearts, boss, James Fowler, made two changes to the team that started at Tynecastle, Danny Carmichael, and John Baird, replaced Lewis Kidd, and Kevin Dzierzawski, as Queens lined-up in a 4-4-2 formation. Rangers, making their first visit to Dumfries on league business for the first time since 1964 started with former Queens favourites, Nicky Clark, and Lee Robinson on their bench, and both Lee Wallace, and Lewis MacLeod missed the trip to Dumfries. With all of the media speculation earlier in the day being around the Rangers manager, it came as some what of a relief to get the much anticipated game under way.Current league form for both teams showed the same sequence of just one defeat in seven, however the team from Glasgow had taken 16 points from those games as opposed to the 14 that had been collected by Queens.
With a swirling wind blowing around at pitch level, it took a little time for both teams to settle into the game, but it was the home side who started brightly and when Danny Carmichael escaped clear down the left his through ball found Baird in space but his cross across the face of goal was just too far in front of the onrushing Gavin Reilly. That swift attack from Queens set the tone for much of the opening period of the game as the home side dominated proceedings. In Queens next attack it was the pace of Carmichael that got the move flowing and after running at the defence, his pass to the overlapping Andy Dowie led to the full-back`s cross being headed away for Queens first corner of the night Ian McShane`s near post corner was was low and hard, but the massed ranks of the Rangers defence cleared the ball under no real pressure.
Reilly just fails to connect with a cross from Baird
Once more it was Queens who seemed the most likely to open the scoring as they hit swiftly on the break following a Rangers corner. John Baird picked up possession just outside the area and his clever pass released Iain Russell who sprinted 40 yards down the left before firing in a decent shot that was comfortably held by visiting `keeper Simonsen.It took the visitors 12 minutes to offer any real threat to the home defence but even then Kenny Miller`s angled drive from just inside the penalty box flew harmlessly over the bar.
With Queens controlling the midfield through Kerr, and McShane, and with the pace of both Russell, and Carmichael, on either flank, the home side were well in control of the contest, and mid-way through the half, they deservedly went ahead. Danny Carmichael`s challenge a few yards outside his own penalty box got the Queens attack moving, and the speed of the winger saw him glide past Black and as he continued his run towards the Rangers area his driven cross was handled by the falling McGregor and the home side were awarded a free-kick from a highly promising position. McGregor was booked for his troubles, and further punishment followed when Kevin Holt stepped up to fire an unstoppable effort past the despairing dive of Simonsen.
Holt fires the opener with a stunning free kick
Goal celebrations
Rangers had hardly been seen in the Queens half, and encouraged even more after taking the lead, Queens continued to be the better side and both Baird and Russell went close to increasing the advantage for the hosts. An even better opportunity came for Queens on the half hour. Once again Carmichael was at the heart of it when after getting to the bye-line his pass back to Dowie allowed the full-back to whip in a great cross that evaded everyone except Iain Russell at the far post, but the usually deadly striker ballooned his shot high over the bar. Minutes later, the visitors had their best chance of the half. Aird`s corner was flicked on by McCulloch to Daly and his header was cleared off the line by a well placed Ian McShane, and when the ball was returned into the area, Mohsni could only direct his header over.the bar. Rangers were at last enjoying some possession of the ball, although they rarely looked capable of unlocking a well organised defence, and Aird`s shot from distance was easily gathered by Zander Clark as the Queens shot stopper and his defence enjoyed a fairly comfortable first forty five minutes.
HALF-TIME QUEENS 1-0 RANGERS
Rangers made a change at the break with Templeton replacing Shiels, and as they tried to find a way back into the game, the Glasgow side were much brighter during the opening period of the half. Nothing much had been seen of Nicky Law in midfield, but the Rangers playmaker went close to reducing the deficit, but after his run through the middle of the park, his shot was a fraction too close to Zander Clark, and the Queens `keeper was able to save well. A tangle involving Dowie and Black threatened to get out of hand with Black claiming that he had been stamped upon, and although it all happened very quickly, it did seem as though the Rangers man had a point.The visitors went to their bench again just short of the hour mark, this time a double swap saw them replace both strikers, Daly, and Miller, with Boyd, and former Queens favourite, Nicky Clark. With tempers starting to rise, McCulloch and Baird were both cautioned for a bit of a flare up, and as Queens began to take more of a grip on the half, Rangers became increasingly more frustrated with their own play.
Queens had a really big chance to go further ahead when a fine run and cross by Reilly found Baird unmarked in front of goal, but with just the `keeper to beat, Baird rushed his shot and drove his effort wide of the left-hand upright. That was virtually the striker`s last touch of the ball as shortly afterwards he made way for Derek Lyle. Five minutes later and Palmerston erupted as Queens extended their lead. Danny Carmichael - who had a terrific game - floated a delightful ball into the path of Reilly, and after controlling the ball well, he produced a stunning left-foot drive that flew in off the right post. The goal took the striker into double figures for the season, and it gave Queens more reward for their overall performance on the night. They might have added a third goal after 78 minutes, but Dowie`s header from McShane`s corner was cleared off the line. Mark Durnan became the second Queens player to be cautioned following a late challenge on Law in midfield, and with more than ten minutes remaining a significant number of the large travelling support began to leave, deciding that the game was gone, and that their team was on it`s way to yet another defeat, and although Rangers created a couple of half chances near the end through Aird, and then Boyd, it was to be Queens` night as they ran down the clock without any problems. Lewis Kidd replaced Danny Carmichael for the last few minutes, and right at the end, Michael Paton replaced Iain Russell.
Reilly slams the ball into the net.........
......and runs to the fans to celebrate
A memorable night for Queens, as a superb performance and two really fine goals saw them close the gap to just 4 points between them and their Glasgow rivals.
These young fans enjoyed their Friday night