Queens surrendered a one goal half-time advantage as two costly second half mistakes saw bottom side Partick Thistle come from behind to claim all three points, lift themselves off of bottom place, and leave Queens wondering just how they had contrived to lose the game. Without both Stephen Dobbie, and Dan Pybus in their line-up, apart from the opening ten-minutes Queens were the dominant team and were well worth their interval lead, but after the break it was a different story as we couldn`t find the goal that would have given us a degree of comfort, and then the two errors changed the outcome of the game.
Match photo gallery here.
Following that unbelievable win up at Dundee last weekend, Queens were forced into making changes with both Dobbie and Pybus suffering injuries during training which meant a recall to the starting line-up for Michael Paton, and Gary Oliver as we began in a 4-1-3-2 set up with Abdul Osman sitting just in front of the back four, and Connor Murray and Gary Oliver leading the attack.
The game began with the visitors starting well and a curling effort from Miller had to be tipped away by Robby McCrorie and as Thistle continued to put Queens under pressure they won a couple of corners in quick succession and following an error in defence a shot from Kakay did not have enough curl to trouble McCrorie.
Corner for Thistle but it didnt look like McCrorie put a glove on it
After that opening spell, we gradually began to work our way into the game and a bright move that started with McCrorie finding Oliver ,who in turn found Faissal El Bakhtaoui who rolled the ball into the path of Michael Paton, didn`t end with the required finish as Paton`s shot went well over the bar.
Paton blasts over
The evergreen Kenny Miller was Thistle`s main threat and on 12 minutes he connected well with a half-volley from the edge of the box, but McCrorie reacted very well to produce a smart stop to keep the game level.
Our response was immediate and a cross from the right from Scott Mercer picked out Kevin Holt at the back post, but after climbing well, he could only send a header wide of the far post. The best chance for Queens came via a mistake by visiting `keeper Sneddon who got in a complete tangle as he tried to deal with a cross from Murray, but fortunately luck was with him as his attempt to palm the ball over the bar ended with it running along the bar before bouncing down and then being cleared to safety.
Somehow Sneddon ended up in the back of the net and the ball didnt
We continued to enjoy the bulk of the possession and following a foul on Darren Lyon on the right,and from the set-piece El Bakhtaoui`s delivery into the box fell to Oliver,who saw his snapshot go well over the crossbar. The pressure was building and eventually on
20 minutes, the breakthrough arrived. El Bakhtaoui and Oliver combined well in a fast flowing move and when the ball was slipped inside to Connor Murray he was on hand to finish off the move with a well struck half-volley.
Murray sends in a dipping effort that deceives the keeper and opens the scoring
Minutes after taking the lead, Queens were forced into making a change due to injury. As Darren Brownlie slid in to clear the ball it slammed directly into the face of team-mate Darren Lyon knocking him to the ground and unfortunately for the former Hamilton man, knocking him out momentarily. Thankfully after a lengthy delay, Lyon came round and was stretchered off to be replaced by Lewis Kidd. The delay of about 7 minutes disrupted the flow of the game, and the remainder of the half was interspersed with a series of free-kicks and passes that were over hit and lacking in accuracy. The midfield battle between former Thistle player Abdul Osman, and current Thistle captain, Bannigan was an intriguing watch, and for most of the opening forty-five minutes it was the Queens man who won the contest as time after time he found himself in the right place to block, intercept, or win the ball as he delivered a masterclass on how to be a defensive midfielder as he provided very good protection for his defence.
The half ended with Queens well worth their lead, but probably frustrated that they hadn`t managed to extend their advantage.
HALF-TIME QUEENS 1-0 PARTICK THISTLE
An early free-kick opportunity gave the visitors a chance to get back into the contest, but a low drive from Cole had neither the power or direction to trouble Robby McCrorie and the Queens `keeper was able to comfortably hold on to the low shot. Just like in the first half it was the away team who made a more positive start and a flowing move involving Miller, substitute Zanatta and Jones, ended with the former Bradford striker having his shot blocked.
Our first positive break of the second period came when Kevin Holt did well to win possession and find Gary Oliver, but his shot was weak and the chance had gone. Minutes later we created a really good chance to increase our lead. The ball was worked out to the right where Mercer and Murray combined well and when Murray delivered a delightful cross into the box, substitute Lewis Kidd - who had made an excellent run into the box - was unable to keep his diving header on target. It was a very good chance but in fairness to Kidd he seemed to arrive a fraction ahead of the ball and couldn`t quite make the proper connection.
Robby McCrorie was called upon to make another comfortable save, this time it was a shot from Jones that was easily dealt with. On 68 minutes a burst of pace from Miller took him into a dangerous area but from a decent position the experienced striker dragged his shot well wide of the far upright. Queens responded with an attack of their own led by Gary Oliver who held the ball up well before sliding a pass through to El Bakhtaoui who saw his powerful drive deflected over the bar for a corner which came to nothing.
With 20 minutes left, Thistle drew level. A mistake in midfield saw us lose possession and after pushing forward Zanatta was fouled right on the edge of the box and that set up an opportunity for Cole to have another shot at goal, and although his powerful shot beat
the wall and produced a decent stop from McCrorie, the Queens `keeper could only parry the ball back into the danger zone and he was unfortunate to see Cardle react quicker than anyone to turn the rebound into the empty net.
Cardle is on the spot to react quickest and equalise
That equaliser was a big set back for Queens but we really should have restored the lead just seconds later when the move of the match should really have led to a second Queens goal. A fast flowing move full of one touch passing ended with Lewis Kidd finding himself with an opportunity, but not used to finding himself in such a position he rushed his shot and it was blocked almost as it left his foot.
Kidd sees his effort blocked when through on goal
Thistle goalscorer Cardle became the first player to be cautioned when he threw himself to the ground as he went looking for a penalty, but referee McLean was in the right place to issue a deserved yellow card for trying to cheat - or as it is known, simulation.
With time running out we were still creating chances, and El Bakhtaoui really should have at least worked the `keeper when well placed, but leaning back, all he could do was send a shot high into the Portland Drive terracing. It was Gary Oliver`s turn to spurn the next chance when after getting in behind the defence and with support to his right, he elected to shoot and with three defenders blocking his route to goal it was no surprise to see his effort fail to trouble the `keeper.
Having once again created enough chances to win this, and probably another game, it was to be another mistake that saw us concede a second and crucial goal with just 5 minutes left to play. When Cole gained possession 30-yards from goal there seemed to be little danger and so with no options open to him he elected to shoot, and unfortunately his low shot was either deflected or Robby McCrorie was unsighted, but the result saw the ball end up in the net via the crossbar as the Queens `keeper struggled to keep Cole`s effort out. Queens only booking of the game came when a frustrated Connor Murray was late with a challenge deep inside the Partick half, and as the game approached it`s conclusion there was still one last chance for Queens to grab a late leveller when substitute, Jack Hamilton - on for Paton - met a cross with his head, but could only direct his attempt straight into the arms of `keeper Sneddon, which for all of our attacking endeavour, was just our second attempt on target during the game.
Thistle celebrate their winning goal
Victory for Thistle saw them climb off the foot of the table and saw them close the gap to just 4 points between themselves and Queens, whilst for us the joy of that late winner up at Dens Park last weekend already seems like a distant memory.
The sponsors named Faissal El Bahktaoui as their man-of-the-match, and it would be the majority of the 1314 in attendance who would still be wondering how that game was lost.