Queens were well beaten by Raith Rovers as their playoff hopes took a blow. With three wins this season already against the Kirkcaldy outfit the team must have travelled with confidence, especially following Saturday`s win over Cowdenbeath. However there was a pre-match blow when Iain Russell was ruled out due to a knee problem. Mark Durnan stepped in for him with Lewis Kidd moving forward into right midfield and Danny Carmichael switching over to the left side in a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 with Michael Paton supporting Derek Lyle who replaced Gavin Reilly in the starting eleven.
It was apparent from the early exchanges though that the passing was not going to be easy for both teams on a difficult pitch. Neither keeper indeed had been tested by an effort on target before the home side opened the scoring on 23 minutes. Ryan Conroy`s cross was headed goalward by Lewis Vaughan and although Zander Clark made a good reaction block the ball fell perfectly for Mark Stewart to rattle in off the crossbar. The goal increased the urgency in the Queens ranks but there were few openings in front of McGurn`s goal. One neat passing move before half time though ended with Millar firing just wide from the edge of the box.
Clark makes a great reaction block....
.......but the ball falls nicely for Stewart who smashes it into the net
The second half began with Kevin Holt making space down the left to fire in an excellent low cross which was just out of reach of Derek Lyle as he arrived in the six yard box. The manager then looked to change the formation to give us more options up front and Reilly came off the bench to replace Durnan. Lewis Kidd dropped into the back line, Carmichael switched back over to the right and Michael Paton moved to the left side. The change did liven us up too and from a back post Dowie header Rovers scrambled to clear the ball away from their line. Shortly after Gavin Reilly flicked the ball over the bar. Rovers needed more steel and sent Martin Scott on for Callahan whilst Queens replaced Kidd with Mitchell. Another good chance for an equaliser came and went though when Holt leapt to win a header at the back post but mistimed hsi jump and headed well over. It proved a crucial miss as Raith went up the other end and scored a second, clinching, goal. It came from the same source as Conroy crossed from wide and Stewart this time headed in off the post under pressure from Dowie.
Dowie heads goalward but McGurn made a great stop
That in reality was game over and Kevin Holt picked up his 5th booking of the season for a late challenge on Jason Thomson. Stephen McKenna replaced McShane before the home side added a third. It came from the impressive Lewis Vaughan who evaded a number of tackles before shooting past Clark from the edge of the area. We can be grateful that the last five minutes didn`t see the goal difference take more of a knock as Rovers on at least three occasions could have added a 4th. Barrie McKay was particularly wasteful late on.
So it`s off to Tynecastle next and a much better performance required if we are not to see Hearts completed a clean sweep of wins over us for the season.