After the momentous win against Rangers last weekend, boss, James Fowler had to make changes for today`s match. Without both Iain Russell, and Andy Dowie, through suspension, the enforced changes saw Lewis Kidd come in at right-back, with Russell`s place being taken by Kilmarnock loanee, Greg Kiltie. Visitors Cowdenbeath arrived at Palmerston on the back of a run that showed  just one win, and five defeats from their last 6 matches, although during their most recent defeat at Ibrox, there were encouraging signs that their fortunes might be changing for the better.

   A crowd of 1717 gathered on a cold but clear day, and the signs looked bright for the home fans as Queens began well, and after just 3 minutes they had a really good opportunity to take the lead. Kevin Holt`s cross from the left fell to Gavin Reilly unmarked inside the 6-yard box, but the Championship`s leading scorer snatched at the chance and his shot on the half volley cleared the bar. As the home side continued on the front foot, John Baird was next to try his luck, but his drive from the edge of the box was easily gathered by visiting `keeper, Thomson. It would turn out to be a busy afternoon for the former Scotland under-19 shot stopper.

 

Durnan and Wedderburn mix it up

 

  Queens first corner of the game caused problems for the visitors, and when the loose ball was pumped back into the danger area, there was a nasty clash of heads between Chris Higgins, and Declan Hughes, although fortunately both players were fit enough to continue. After being outplayed in the opening exchanges, the visitors slowly worked their way into the game, and a neat passing move that sliced through the Queens midfield created a shooting chance for Hughes that was not too far wide of the target. Their solitary striker, Gallagher was starting to pose some problems for both Higgins and Durnan, and by playing right on their shoulders and using his pace, it was obvious that the long ball over the top to him was going to be Cowdenbeath`s main weapon of attack.

  Mid-way through the half the hosts had another good opportunity to go ahead. The ball was worked wide to Greg Kiltie on the left and although his cross picked out Reilly, the striker`s control was poor and the chance was gone.The best chance of the opening 25 minutes came for Queens, and in particular to Baird. After exchanging passes with Reilly right on the angle of the penalty area he struck a marvellous effort that looked to be on it`s way into the top corner, but `keeper Thomson produced a brilliant save to push the ball away. Continuing to have more of the ball, Queens pushed hard for the opener, and a run into the box from Holt drew half-hearted appeals for a penalty from some of the home fans as the full-back crashed to the ground under a hefty challenge, and minutes later Baird directed a McShane free-kick towards goal, but Thomson was alive to the danger and punched the ball clear.

Thomson makes a great stop

 

   At the other end following a rare break from the visitors, Zander Clark produced a decent stop to deny Robertson, and with Cowdenbeath having their best spell of the game, it was down to Clark once again to keep the scoreline level, this time he acted as sweeper and was alert enough to race from his goal to clear the danger as Gallagher looked to have the beating of Higgins. Not long afterwards, Clark was in the action again, this time making a reaction save almost on the goal-line to keep out Robertson`s close range header. 

   The long ball move from Cowdenbeath almost saw them open the scoring, but thankfully for the Queens defence the flag was up for offside even though Gallagher did go on to put the ball in the net. Just two minutes later an identical situation arose and this time the visitors were not offside. As the play developed Queens were lucky to see a cross from the right deflect off Holt for a corner,for had the ball reached Miller in the middle he would have been through on goal. The resulting corner was cleared but only as far as Halsman whose effort from the edge of the box curled wide of the far upright.

   Four minutes from the break, and Queens, who had repeatedly been caught out by the long ball, this time paid the ultimate price as Cowdenbeath took the lead. A swift breakaway saw them attack right at the heart of the Queens defence, and a perfectly delivered ball from the back fell nicely for Gallagher who was able to hold off the challenge of Kidd before finishing confidently passed an exposed Zander Clark. The goal from the Rangers loanee was the first that Queens had conceded in more than 430 minutes of league football at Palmerston, and whilst it was well crafted, and well finished, Queens simply failed to defend the long ball.

Gallagher finishes well

 

   Just on the stroke of half-time Queens almost grabbed an equaliser. Baird did exceptionally well to win a corner, and from McShane`s ball in, Kevin Holt saw his header cleared off the line as the full-back nearly repeated his goalscoring feat from the last game. That chance along with the others that Queens created in the half should have seen the home side go in at the break at least on level terms, but as it was, they found themselves behind at the interval for the first time at Palmerston in 5 games.

Off the line 1

 

 

 

The visitors made a change to their team at the break with scorer Gallagher being replaced by Craig Sutherland, with Gallagher appearing to suffer an injury shortly after opening the scoring. The home side were also quick to go to the bench, when just four minutes into the half, Michael Paton replaced Greg Kiltie. The home side began the half on the front foot, and with Kerr, and McShane linking well with Baird upfront, hopes amongst the home support started to rise as Queens searched for an equaliser. Most of Queens forward play was involving Kerr, and his through ball almost freed Reilly, but the pass was slightly over hit and the pace on the ball was just too strong for Reilly to catch. Clear cut chances were at a premium in the opening stages of the second half, and although Queens were having the better of the possession, on several occasions, their final ball was a let down.

      They almost helped the visitors to go further in front when a series of errors resulted in Kevin Holt making a mistake when trying to clear the ball, his miscued clearance ending up in the penalty box, and only a wonderful quick reaction stop by Clark prevented Sean Higgins from scoring. On the hour mark, Queens came very, very close to drawing level. Good approach play involving Kerr, Baird, and Reilly resulted in Kerr being upended just outside the area by Hughes, and with everyone expecting Holt to go for goal, the kick was left instead to McShane who was very unlucky to see his shot beat Thomson but crash off the crossbar and bounce away to safety. Almost but not quite the perfect present for McShane who was celebrating his 22nd birthday. If that was close, then 3 minutes later Queens went even closer. A long free-kick from McShane was headed back across goal by Chris Higgins where Reilly threw himself at the ball to send it spinning towards the far post, but somehow defender Halsman cleared the ball off the line as Baird was poised to tap the ball home. In Queens` next break, Baird broke into the box, but from a very tight angle he elected to shoot rather than pick out a team-mate, and his attempt sailed high over the bar.

Off the line - 2

 

     In the space of 5 minutes Queens should have at least got themselves back on level terms, and as they continued to push forward there was always the danger that Cowdenbeath could hit them on the break. Although the visitors had changed their main striker, substitute Sutherland was playing the same role and on a few occasions with Queens taking more risks at the back, his pace and directness threatened to cause Queens problems as the game moved into it`s final quarter. Queens introduced Derek Lyle for Danny Carmichael on 70 minutes, and the substitutes first involvement in the game saw him lay the ball off into the path of McShane, but his shot was rushed and he  dragged it wide of the far post.

     Five minutes after his introduction Lyle almost drew Queens level when his speculative shot from 25-yards out was deflected behind for a corner. It seemed as though it was going to be one of those days for Queens as they continued to throw everything at the visitors. An intricate move started by Kerr, and involving Lyle, and Baird finished with Lyle firing well wide as the home side stepped up the pace as they chased an equaliser. There was to be no birthday goal for Ian McShane as he became the final Queens player to be substituted, American Kevin Dzierzawski coming on for the final 9 minutes. Once again the hosts attacked and once again they were to be denied. Mark Kerr did well to win a corner on the right, and with usual set-piece taker McShane off the field, Kevin Dzierzawski delivered the corner. His kick found the head of Mark Durnan and with Palmerston getting ready to cheer a leveller, Thomson produced an outstanding save to keep his side ahead. Dzierzawski hit a cracker himself seconds later, but again Thomson was equal to it, punching the ball away for a corner.

    From the corner Queens got what was a deserved equaliser. Dzierzawski`s ball in was met by Derek Lyle who rose unmarked to power a header beyond Thomson. The goal was no more than Queens deserved especially for the way that they had taken the game to the visitors in the second half, and as they continued to look for what would have been an unlikely winner, they made a fatal mistake and paid dearly for it. Pushing forward and leaving just two defenders covering, Queens lost possession mid-way inside the Cowdenbeath half, and 10 seconds later, the ball was nestling in the back of their net. After collecting the ball, Kyle Miller`s neat chip forward split the two covering defenders and fell nicely into the path of Sean Higgins, and after controlling well, the striker showed good composure to round Clark and win his team all three points. There was still time for Queens to respond, but on each occasion that the ball was thrown forward, the visitors had enough men back to deal with the situation, and they held on to get what was for them an unexpected victory.

Lyle heads goalward ....

...and gives the home fans some hope with a fine goal.....

...however the experienced Higgins scores a last minute winner for the visitors

 

    So there we have it, following last weekend`s euphoria after the win against Rangers, Queens come unstuck in a game that they were expecting to win. As a result of the defeat and along with a win for Hibernian, Queens have now slipped to fourth place in the Championship table, and now only have a two point cushion over Falkirk. What a difference a week can make.