Queen of the South travelled to newly promoted Partick Thistle in the opening game of the cinch Scottish Championship. For the third time in three games there was five goals scored, however like the Motherwell game, Queens were on the wrong end of the odd goal in five.

 

Despite making three new signings since last weeks win against Airdrieonians, each of Udoka Chima, Harry Cochrane and Josh Debayo were forced to make do with places on the bench. The only change to the Queens side was Paul McKay coming into make his first start for the club, replacing Scott Dunn who dropped to the bench.

 

 

The game couldn?t have got off to a much more frantic start. Thistle saw most of the ball in the opening stages but never troubled Queens, before the South began to dictate proceedings.

 

The games first real chance ended in its first goal, and what a goal it was.

 

Picking up the ball on the left, Wullie Gibson strolled past Ross Docherty, before beating Ciaran McKenna and unleashing a venomous strike from 25-yards, beating Jamie Sneddon for power and height. Could Sneddon have done better? Perhaps. But take nothing away from the goal, it was arguably Gibson?s best since returning to Queens?and that says a lot!

 

Gibson strikes

Goal celebrations

 

Disappointingly though the lead didn?t last long ? six minutes to be exact.

 

As referee Greg Aitken ordered Lee Connelly off the pitch to get something amended on his shirt, Zak Rudden delivered a loopy ball into the box, finding Brian Graham, who done was he really does best by heading home from the back post.

 

Graham beats Gibson at the back post to equalise

 

It gave the 2000 strong home support a much needed boost but it was still Queens who were playing the better football.

 

Roberto Nditi went for a wander up the pitch, playing in former Jag Ally Roy, whose shot was well saved by Sneddon, albeit it was from a tight angle.

 

Moments later Gibson was beating McKenna again on the left, before standing a cross up into the box for Ruari Paton, however the Irishman could only head the cross straight into Sneddon?s hands.

 

Referee Greg Aitken then proceeded to send Allan Johnston to the stands for what looked like some bickering between the gaffer and the linesman. Aitken was the same referee that sent off Rhys McCabe and Ayo Obileye in March, of course both red cards were later rescinded.

 

On the half hour mark things went from bad to worse for Queens though after Brian Graham doubled his sides lead. Another Rudden cross into the box was met by a Thistle player, this time in McKenna, who forced Josh Rae into a sublime save.

 

Rae?s hand could only tip the ball onto the post though, leaving Graham with the easiest of finishes from close range.

 

Rae appears to have both hands firmly on the ball

 

Queens did manage to get the ball in the net on 37 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside. There weren?t many complaints, if any at all, from the Queens players in looked the correct decision.

 

Roy picked up a booking on 40 minutes after fouling Stuart Bannigan, before Ross Docherty was booked in injury time after fouling Ruben Soares Junior.

 

 

Queens were probably the better side in the opening half hour, yet found themselves 2-1 down. The game stalled after Thistle?s second, neither side was really able to regain much composure and create any chances.

 

The second half was a slow burner, but again it was Queens who were the first to have a shot on goal. Connelly forced Sneddon into a mistake, but the ?keeper was able to get up and save the shot from Roy.

 

On 57 minutes there was major confusion at Firhill, not only between the fans and players but the officials too.

 

A Thistle cross was nodded back into the danger area by Rudden who looked clearly offside. Kyle Turner tapped home and the goal was seemingly given, much to the surprise of absolutely everyone in the stadium. After about a minute of deliberation between the officials, the flag eventually went up and the correct decision was made.

 

On 62 minutes Josh Debayo and Harry Cochrane were handed debuts from the bench, replacing Josh Todd and Junior, while Cammy Smith came on for the hosts for Turner.

 

Udoka Chima made his Queens debut moments later, replacing Paul McKay at the heart of the defence.

 

Queens were very much in the ascendency in Glasgow, dictating proceedings, albeit Thistle?s defence was looking solid.

 

The Doonhamers had corners pretty regularly throughout the match, but it wasn?t a secret that the hosts possessed far greater height in their team.

 

Nonetheless, it was a corner that Queens managed to equalise from.

 

A sublime Connelly cross was glanced on from Ruari Paton, into the far corner, leaving Sneddon with absolutely no chance.

 

Paton heads home

Paton celebrates

 

In truth, it was absolutely no less than Queens deserved, and it set up for a grandstand last 15 minutes.

 

Thistle came out of their shell for the first time in a while and began to test the Queens backline. Scott Tiffoney was now leading the line with Graham after Rudden was sacrificed.

 

Nditi was going forward throughout the game from right-centre-back and tried his luck from range after 79 minutes, although his powerful shot went narrowly over.

 

Sandy Clark was the next man in Aitken?s book, a yellow, presumably for something he said.

 

With just six minutes left on the clock though, Thistle restored their lead. A shot from range was blocked, and the bounce fell the way of Scott Tiffoney, who just needed to tap home from six yards.

 

The South kept pressing on in search for another equaliser, but it wasn?t to be.

 

 

Two goals wasn?t enough for Queens to salvage something from Firhill, but nonetheless it was a decent performance from the Doonhamers.

 

Next up it?s Kilmarnock at Palmerston as Queens look to get some points on the board in the cinch Scottish Championship.