Queens drew for the second consecutive match after a dull goalless encounter agaisnt Falkirk at The Falkirk Stadium.

In a match lacking any real quality and chances as both teams had to settle for a point in front of the BBC Alba cameras.

Queens boss James Fowler selected the same starting eleven from last week`s 2-2 draw with Morton. Ex-Falkirk midfielder Mark Millar had to settle for a place on the visitors`  bench against his former employers.

This was Peter Houston`s men second match in four days, where they were hammered 7-0 by Ross County in League cup duty on Tuesday evening.

There were a couple of familiar faces in the Falkirk starting line-up, former Queens` strikers John Baird and Bob McHugh led the line for the hosts whilst Mark Kerr was on the substitute bench.

Falkirk came into the match undefeated in the Labrokes Championship and if recent history was to have a factor their terrific start would continue. Queens last won at The Falkirk Stadium in 2011 when goals from Colin Mcmenamin and Allan Johnston sealed the points for The Doonhamers.

The first five minutes of the match was pretty even as both teams looked to work out each other out. It was Falkirk that had the first half chance of the game as David Smith `s pace caught out Jordan Marshall but his cross was caught comfortably by Robbie Thomson.

It was an uneventful opening stages to the match with hardly any chances created. Only David Smith`s cross in the 15th minute tested Queens stopper Thomson but he caught the ball with ease.

Falkirk continued to shade possession but were hardly a major threat on Queens goal. Craig Sibbald broke away from his marker and hit a low cross into the box but it was blocked by the stern Queens defence and cleared to safety.

It took The Doonhamers 25 minute to create their first effort on goal, Jordan Marshall sung in a cross which found leading goal scorer Derek Lyle but he misjudged his header and was well wide of the goal.

Fowler`s men started to up the ante, forcing their first corner of the night. The corner kicked summed up the first half as it was easily headed away by David McCracken.

The Falkirk support started to air their frustrations on the half hour mark and who could blame them after a lack of real chances for the hosts.

Queens` continued to pass the ball through the centre of midfield with Jacobs and Conroy linking up well and from a nice move Gary Oliver was fouled by Tom Taiwo 35-yards from goal. Alex Harris floated a free-kick into the box and found the head of Chris Higgins but again Queens couldn`t find the final touch to really trouble the home defence.

Conroy tries to get things started

 

It was Taiwo again battling away in the middle of the park and after he won a meaty challenge against Alex Harris it led to a Falkirk attack. Will Vaulks had a shot from 25 yards but Andy Dowie blocked the shot before rebounding to McHugh and his shot was wide of Thomson`s post.

Dowie blocks Vaulks attempt on goal

Falkirk were starting to turn the screw and after a succession of corners Vaulks came close to breaking the deadlock. Vaulks found himself in a glorious positon in the Queens` box but he wasted the chance as his slack shot trickled wide.

That was the last action of the half as referee George Salmond blew for half-time. Both sides in the first half cancelled each other out and with no real clear cut opportunities between them

HALF TIME FALKIRK 0-0 QUEENS

Falkirk came out the brighter in the second half and instantly pressed the Queens` defence.

Former Annan player Aaron Muirhead ran past three Queens players and his cross found the feet of Baird who slipped the ball to McHugh but his touch could only allow him to have a tame effort but was saved by Thomson.

Thomson makes a great stop to deny McHugh

That would be McHugh`s last contribution of the evening, being replaced for Blair Alston. Queens` also made a change, Mark Millar on for the on-loan Alex Harris. Millar`s introduction was greeted by jeers from the Falkirk faithful.

The game needed a goal but it didn`t look like coming as Falkirk tried to unlock The Doonhamers defence to no no avail. A clever passing move from the fresh Alston and Taiwo looked to threaten but again couldn`t put pressure on the Queens` number one.

Peter Houston made another change on the hour mark, Lee Miller replacing John Baird. Baird had a quiet evening and didn`t come close to adding to his impressive goal scoring tally of five league goals this campaign.

Lewis Kidd was beginning to test Luke Leahy, the wing-back managed to get himself in front of the defender and his cross found the feet of Derek Lyle  but his shot from just outside the box was deflected over Danny Rogers goal.

Five minutes later, Kidd whipped in another dangerous cross. All the Falkirk goalkeepr could do was palm the cross over the bar. From the resulting corner The Bairns cleared and broke away but again nothing came of the counter-attack.

Falkirk made their final change of the evening, Tom Taiwo being replaced for another former Queens` player Mark Kerr. With only thirteen minutes remaining it was Falkirks last throw of the dice.

Two minutes later Falkirk had the ball in the back of the net, thanks to a Peter Grant header but referee Salmond deemed Grant shoved Chris Higgins to win the ball.

Fowler made his second change of the evening. Kyle Hutton coming on for Ryan Conroy to join Kyle Jacobs in the heart of Queens` midfield but it was former Queens midfieler Mark Kerr who came close to winning the match for Falkirk.

A great run from Craig Sibbald opened up the Queens defence and he slipped the ball to Kerr who lined up a shot from 25-yards out but his effort couldn`t trouble Thomson.

Both sides had late chances to claim all three points. Craig Sibbald crossed the ball to the path of Aaron Muirhead and he rose above everybody else but his header was always rising and ended up in the stand.

Queens` had the final chance of the match when Derek Lyle found space on the edge of the box but his shot was high and ended up in the stand where 182 Queens` fans were seated.

The game certainly wasn`t a classic but it is a good point for James Fowler`s men at a venue where Queens` usually struggle to get a result.

Tonights draw leapfrogs Queens over Morton into fifth place and leaves Falkirk second in the league with their undefeated start to the league season still intact.

Next up for The Doonhamers is a home clash with play-off rivals Hibernian.