After a run of three successive wins for the first time since August/September 2018, we are looking to make it four-on-the-trot as Arbroath visit Palmerston tomorrow. You need to go back to August 2017 for the last time we won four games consecutively in the same season when we defeated Airdrie, Dumbarton, Falkirk and Berwick Rangers. We did win the final three league games of the 2017/18 season and the first three Betfred Cup games in the 2018/19 season however those games were over two campaigns.
Our visitors Arbroath currently lie at the foot of the table on five points, albeit they have a game in hand over Alloa, who are just three points ahead. The Red Lichties have yet to play a game in 2021 with home games against Inverness and Falkirk postponed. They were due to play Falkirk in their rearranged Scottish Cup fixture on Tuesday with the prize a trip to Celtic Park, although that was postponed after the SFA’s announcement to suspend football below the Championship.
The two teams have only ever met once at Palmerston in the Championship with Dan Pybus’ first (and only) goal for the club and a Ricky Little own goal giving Queens the full three points. The spoils were shared earlier this season though as James Maxwell’s first-half goal was cancelled out by Bobby Linn early in the second period.
Arbroath are likely to be at near full strength for their visit to Palmerston, although they lost influential midfielder Miko Virtanen at the start of the month after his loan spell was cut short by Aberdeen. Hearts loanee Connor Smith also saw his spell cut short by his parent club, although he only made a handful of appearances for the Gayfield outfit. Defender Jake Davidson has been brought in from Dundee United by Arbroath on a loan until the end of the season, while midfielder Ben Williamson has been signed on loan from Rangers.
We will still be without Jack Leighfield who is likely to face a few weeks on the side-lines with a knee injury, although Charlie Cowie will be able to return to the bench after being cup-tied for last week’s Scottish Cup trip to Hampden. The game might come too soon for Stephen Dobbie who is still nursing a hamstring injury, although the captain will hopefully make a return to action this month. It remains to be seen whether Nortei Nortey or Harry Robinson will make the game.
Manager Allan Johnston said “It has been a good couple of weeks for us with back to back wins over Raith Rovers and Ayr United in the league and a Scottish Cup win over Queens Park at Hampden. In all three games the boys have shown real grit, determination and a desire to win and have given outstanding performances.
Connor Shields is brilliant just now and has been grabbing the headlines with his goal-scoring form but it has been a real team effort lately with everyone playing for each other. The midfield was exceptional against Queens Park and I’m delighted for the players at the back keeping a clean-sheet.
We should have been playing Inverness on Tuesday but that was postponed and it has probably worked out well for us as it has given the players a chance to recover after a demanding few weeks.
This weekend we face Arbroath, as I have said many times before, there are no easy games in football these days but we have to go into every game looking to win, especially against teams round about us in the table. Confidence is high just now and we want to keep the momentum going”.
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Kick off – 3pm