We welcome Dundee to Palmerston on Saturday, in what is our first Boxing Day fixture for eight years. The last time we played on the 26th of December a Nicky Clark hat-trick before Kevin Smith bagged a late goal saw Queens defeat neighbours Stranraer 4-1. Wullie Gibson featured that day, as did Allan Johnston, who made a rare appearance at the end of the game.
Saturday’s visitors sit seventh in the table following their 3-3 draw with Dunfermline at Dens Park last week. Goals from Charlie Adam, Osman Sow and Liam Fontaine had the Dee’s 3-0 up, before late goals from Paul Watson and a brace for Declan McManus rescued a point for the Pars.
Talisman Charlie Adam is doubtful for Dundee on Boxing Day, as is ex-Queens player Jordan Marshall. Alex Jakubiak is definitely missing for the visitors though, while Queens look likely to be without Stephen Dobbie who was forced off after just 15 minutes against Morton. Bar the skipper, it looks to be a full-strength squad. Harry Robinson played 70 minutes for the reserves against Threave Rovers on Monday in his first minutes since Halloween, while Niyah Joseph, Calvin McGrory and Kieren McKechnie also featured.
The two sides had an even record against one-another last season. The opening game at Palmerston saw a 1-1 draw played out, with Jack Hamilton’s sixth minute strike cancelled out by Jordan McGhee after 11 minutes. The Doonhamers took the spoils at Dens in November when Dobs scored a late winner just seconds after Danny Johnson had equalised for the hosts, Queens winning 2-1 in the end. The third and final game came at Palmerston in February as Jordan Forster scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 away victory. The two sides did of course meet in cup action in the 2018/19 season, a 1-1 draw at Dundee followed up by an inspired performance from Dobbie in a 3-0 win in Dumfries.
Manager Allan Johnston said “Last week at Cappielow I felt we were the better team in the second half and were unlucky when we hit the post and the crossbar but we again lost a really poor goal from the second phase of a corner that we just can’t allow and that probably sums up our season so far.
Our last three games simply haven’t been good enough and we need to improve. We are bottom of the league and that isn’t acceptable. The league table doesn’t lie and it’s a reality check for us. We need to do a lot better and start picking up results before we start running out of games.
It is a team game and we all need to play our part to get us up the table.
This weekend we welcome Dundee to Palmerston, like us I’m sure they will be desperate to do well especially where they are in the league. They are considered one of the favourites in the division so they will be desperate to go on a run, but so are we so it will be a game where both teams need a result.
We had hoped it would be our first game with fans within the stadium, so it’s a blow for us that it’s not going to happen as we could do with them getting right behind the boys. But the virus has shown it hasn’t gone away and we all need to stay safe and hopefully it won’t be too long before we can welcome supports back.
On behalf of the management team, players and staff I hope you have all had a good Christmas”.
Saturday’s fixture is live on QosTV.
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