It`s Palmerston again this Saturday for Queens as they take on Hamilton Academical for the 5th time this season. Accies have been a bit of a bogey side for us in the league having beaten us three times out of three already. They are also the only team to have beaten us by more than one goal in a league game this season but have done so twice, winning 2-0 and 3-1 at New Douglas Park as well as 1-0 at Palmerston back in November. However, we did knock them out of the Scottish Cup here just before that League loss at Palmerston when Derek Lyle`s headed goal was enough to clinch a 1-0 win.
Accies sit 2nd in the League, just a point off the top and can climb to the summit on Saturday with a win as Dundee have no game this weekend. Queens climbed back into a playoff spot last week with an excellent win over Dumbarton and with the Sons also not in League action this week we will almost certainly stay there come what may. However, this match represents an opportunity to start building a gap on the chasing pack and move away from the five clubs within 6 points of us, perhaps also making some inroads to the top three again. Queens remain top of the "form league" (last 8 games) but Accies are a close third with just 2 points less in the same period and clearly represent a significant obstacle on Saturday.
Jim McIntyre should have close to a full squad to choose from. All suspensions have been served currently whilst Michael Paton returned to training on Thursday, though this game might just come too soon for him, and it remains to be seen whether Stephen McKenna will be available or not. On loan Celtic defender Lewis Kidd started for Scotland`s u19`s in their 4-2 win over Switzerland on Wednesday but returned to us on Thursday also.
Hamilton have won their last three games by a combined 9-2 with goals coming from several different sources. The experienced Jason Scotland is always a threat whilst youngsters James Keatings and Louis Longridge have been scoring for fun lately. Anthony Andreu is providing a goal threat from midfield and if all that fails there`s always Mickael Antoine-Curier who has mostly been on the bench lately. Our back line will certainly have to be on their game to keep them out.
This is match 14 on your Season Ticket and the Ticket Offices, both in the Arena and behind the Rosefield Salvage Stand will be open from about 1pm. Remember you will also be able to buy your tickets for Paul Burns Testimonial match before the game on Saturday in the Arena if you wish.