This Saturday sees Queens back in action at Palmerston following last week`s trip to Falkirk where we were denied a hard-earned point by a controversial injury time penalty award. That lost point, cost us 4th spot in the division and it was Saturday`s visitors, Dumbarton, who took advantage to move above us by a single point following their 3-3 draw with Lee Robinson`s Raith Rovers.
Dumbarton are currently the division`s "form team", a title they inherited from us after our defeat to Dundee. They are unbeaten in 2014, haven`t lost since Dundee beat them 3-0 on December 28 and bring an eight match unbeaten run in all competitions to Palmerston. Their games are rarely dull, they are comfortably the division`s top scorers with 45 goals (compared to 34 for Queens) but also have the second worst defensive record having conceded 45 also (compared to Queens total of 29). Stephen Grindlay, who has a Scottish Cup runners up medal to remember his time with Queens by, has recently taken over as first choice keeper from Jamie Ewings. However, following Kevin Smith`s January departure for East Fife, `Shay` is the only former Queens player in their ranks. Manager Ian Murray is another in the line of young managers to have made an impressive start in his management career and his record since taking over the `Sons` part way through last season is outstanding, particularly for a part-time side in what remains a predominantly full time division.
This is such a very tight league this season that a glance at the current form table for the last 8 games shows 6 of the division`s 10 clubs have between 13 and 15 points in that time. It`s likely this will be another close game between two clubs who have been very evenly matched this season, both winning away in the two previous clashes. Dumbarton won 2-1 at Palmerston in September courtesy of Fleming`s late winner whilst former `Son` Iain Russell, who still lives in the town, has scored in both previous fixtures, including the only goal when we travelled to Strathclyde Homes Stadium in December.
Michael Paton and Mark Kerr are fitness doubts after both were forced off injured at Falkirk last weekend but Stephen McKenna and Jim Atkinson return from suspensions served last weekend to bolster the squad again. Goalkeeper Zander Clark also came through his comeback from injury at Falkirk without a problem and will look to keep his place now he has it back.
We hope to see you all on Saturday again.