Queens earned themselves a workmanlike point away at high-flying Inverness today, who are unbeaten in 18 league games. In saying that, the away side can feel somewhat unlucky not to get all three points having edged the 90 minutes.

Gary Naysmith went with the same 11 from previous weeks, however tweaked the formation to a 4-1-4-1. This enabled Gary Harkins, Lyndon Dykes and Stephen Dobbie to play centrally, with Josh Todd and Andy Stirling providing the width.

Great cover from Jacobs

 

In the opening exchanges it was Queens who were the better team, with Lyndon Dykes testing Mark Ridgers in the Inverness goal from 18 yards. One thing that was evident was how solid Queens were at the back. Michael Doyle and Callum Semple dealt with the towering Jordan White exceptionally, with White struggling to get into the game. 

The full back four, along with Kyle Jacobs covering them, closed down every Inverness attack. It took a 30 yard strike from Aaron Doran to really test Alan Martin which he stopped with comfortably.

Martin makes a comfortable save

 

The slow pitch and high winds weren`t helping either side. Harkins was creating plenty of space throughout the half, but neither side were able to get any real clear cut chances.

The first period concluded 0-0 though, with Queens probably edging possession.

 

Both teams had evidently upped their games in the second half, but it was the Doonhamers who looked more like scoring. The usual free-flowing attacking football was on show, with Jordan Marshall and Andy Stirling in particular finding plenty of room down the wing.

Stirling in the thick of the action

 

However, it was a set-piece that Queens went closest with. Harkins laid the ball off to Dobbie who, from all of 30 yards, struck the bar with what would have undoubtedly been one of the goals of the season.

Dobbie sends his free kick goalward

Dobbies free kick strikes the bar

 

The game began to open up, to an extent, with both teams evidently going for the win. While Inverness were getting some crosses in towards the end of the half, Doyle and Semple especially were dealing with them comfortably.

Former Queens man Shaun Rooney found space down the right and put in a dangerous low ball, which Semple did well to not turn into his own net. In truth, that was about as good as it got for the home side. While they applied some pressure late on, they never looked like scoring as the strong Queens defence thwarted their every attack. 

Semple clears comfortably

 

Dobbie then came within inches of giving Queens the whole three points, but his audacious chip from the edge of the box flew narrowly wide. 

Dobbie with a neat chip

A couple of late Inverness free-kicks were dealt with well by the Queens defence, before referee Alan Muir blew the final whistle. 

Full time: Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0-0  Queen of the South

 

A draw was probably the right result overall, but Queens were the better side over the 90 minutes. One point away to Inverness who are unbeaten in 18 league games, along with our fourth clean-sheet in five league games is not to be underestimated.

The official attendance for today`s game was 2029. A big thank you to all the Queens fans who sang for the team right from the outset.

We`re back at Palmerston next week as we take on Alloa in what proves to be a whole different challenge to today`s match.