Queen of the South 2 Dunfermline 2
Saturday, 17th Dec 2016Ladbrokes Championship: Wedderburn and Martin in, Herron and Duthie out. Own goal (40) 1-0: Jason Talbot (61) 1-1: Kallum Higginbotham (73) 1-2: Stephen Dobbie (78) 2-2:
A late Stephen Dobbie goal earned Queen of the South a point. The home side had gone ahead thanks to an own goal but a better second half performance in which Jason Talbot and Kallum Higginbotham got the Pars ahead only to be pegged back 12 minutes from time.
Dunfermline travelled to Dumfries to take on Queen of the South, their first visit there since February 2011. Allan Johnston brought back Lewis Martin following his suspension taking the place of his stand in Conner Duthie and Nat Wedderburn replaced the injured John Herron. Welcome sights on the Pars bench were the returning Andy Geggan and David Hopkirk.
Queen of the South manager Gary Naismith went with the same starting eleven and same bench as turned out at Falkirk the previous Saturday. The home side kicked off attacking the goal at the closed terracing end. They forced a corner within ninety seconds but when that was sent in from the right Jason Talbot belted the delivery away.
The first attack from the visitors came in four minutes when Paul McMullan surged up the left channel but former Cowdenbeath defender Darren Brownlee eased the Pars Man off the ball to clear. Immediately there was danger at the other end when Derek Lyle got a couple of attempts from 16 yards out but both were blocked.
There were neat interchanges between Mark Millar and Stephen Dobbie as Millar attempted to find a way through the Pars defence. Eventually he laid the ball off for Jamie Hamill but his effort from 30 yards screamed wide left.
Brownlee blocked out McMullan again but the Pars man crossed the second ball and Kallum Higginbotham was unlucky not to get a better connection on the ball on the edge of the six yard box and a goal kick followed.
QOS were forced into a 13th minute substitution Danny Carmichael taking the place of Kyle Jacobs who had gone off a few minutes earlier with a cut. Lee Ashcroft made a very necessary block on a Dobbie effort before at the other end Michael Moffat fired over the bar from the edge of the box.
A Martin throw in was directed back from Nicky Clark to Moffat whose header in turn set up Clark for a shot at goal but Lee Robinson dropped to his right to hold. Three minutes later the keeper only needed to watch a McCabe shot from 25 yards travel outside his left hand post.
While QOS chances were in the opportunist category Dunfermline worked hard at building up play. Robinson was forced out of his goal to punch the ball behind off the head of Moffat and when the 30th minute corner was sent in from the left by Higginbotham, Callum Fordyce`s glancing header went outside the right goalpost.
The home side`s frustrations were demonstrated when Dobbie shot from 40 yards out but he was well wide of the target. In 33rd minute Anderson picked out Carmichael on the top of the Pars box and his quick flick on to Dobbie on the right required a very fine block from Ashcroft who slid in to concede a corner. That was duly defended and play got bogged down a bit with too many high balls and overstruck passes.
The match was in need of a much needed spark and a touch of flair from Lyle almost ignited it for the Doonhamers. The strikers back flick set up Dobbie for a crack at goal but his 16 yard shot went just wide right with Sean Murdoch at full stretch.
Five minutes before the interval QOS took the lead. Anderson`s shot was deflected behind for a corner on the left and when that was sent over by Millar the ball ended up in the net. Brownlee was credited with heading the ball home from close range but the ball went in off Lee Ashcroft. 1-0
The attempts to get quickly back were led by McCabe whose shot from outside the box was saved. Moffat too had a chance from close range but that got blocked and in the dying minutes of the half Murdoch pulled off two great saves, one was at full stretch to deny Lyle and then Talbot made a telling clearance as well.
Half time: Queen of the South 1 Dunfermline 0
The early second half opportunities came from two extremely long McCabe throw ins that the home defence managed well. Fordyce robbed Dobbie as he looked like bursting through into the Pars box.
Two more McCabe throw ins, one from either side then sent the ball into the centre of the Queens box but it was his cross from the left that created a fine chance for Moffat at the far post but the keeper saved his well struck effort.
A 55th minute ball in from Higginbotham drew Robinson off his line to grasp the ball before it reached Clark. Next Higginbotham centred from the left after his corner had been beaten out to him but despite some desperate and at times lucky defending the Pars just couldn`t penetrate the Dumfries side`s defences.
That was until 61 minutes when another McCabe launch in from the right was defended out only as far as TALBOT who crashed the ball home from 20 yards out into the bottom left. 1-1
Having equalised the Fifers then had a fantastic chance to go ahead. Clark`s touch on the edge of the box set himself up for a shot but Robinson made a fine block, Higginbotham followed up but his effort met the same fate and then having defied the offside trap Moffat smashed his shot over the bar from even closer range.
Joe Cardle replaced Paul McMullan with twenty minutes remaining but it was Higginbotham, two times in a minute who crossed to provide chances for Moffat. The striker at least got close to success on the second occasion but sent the ball wide left. The striker then became provider controlling on the left to send in the perfect ball for HIGGINBOTHAM to head home just inside the right upright. 1-2
The lead lasted for only five minutes. Carmichael made the break away from his marker to cross onto the Pars box, Lyle hooked the ball on forcing Murdoch to parry the ball that then landed nicely for DOBBIE to tap home. 2-2
Dobbie won an 84th minute corner off McCabe and when that came over it dropped fortunately at the feet of Moffat who cleared. Queens kept up the pressure. Dobbie hit a 35 yard free kick into the Pars wall, Murdoch punched a Millar cross behind, the corner was defended and then Dobbie was caught offside much to the annoyance of the disputing Dumfries fans.
SUBS NOT USED: Scott Hooper, Ryan Nelson, Dean Brotherston, Jim Atkinson (GK)
SCORERS: Ashcroft (og 40), Dobbie (78)
YELLOW CARD: Hamill (18), Anderson (50), Dowie (87)
DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch: Lewis Martin, Callum Fordyce (c), Lee Ashcroft, Jason Talbot: Kallum Higginbotham, Nat Wedderburn, Rhys McCabe, Paul McMullan (Joe Cardle 70): Nicky Clark, Michael Moffat.
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Williamson, Farid El Alagui, Andy Geggan, David Hopkirk, Gavin Reilly, David Hutton (GK)
SCORERS: Talbot (61), Higginbotham (73)
REFEREE: John McKendrick
WEATHER: Sunny 7C
ATTENDANCE 1561
NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship (home) v Falkirk, Monday 26th December 2016, 3.00pm kick off at East End Park
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Queen of the South 2-2 Dunfermline
Sat, 17th Dec 2016
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Preview Queen of the South
Saturday, 17th Dec 2016Ladbrokes Championship: After winning five Championship matches in a row, Queen of the South have now gone ten without a win.
Dunfermline travelled to Dumfries on Saturday in search of the three points that would lift them above their opponents and into sixth place. Queen of the South last registered a league win back on 17th September but under new management they will have lots of incentives and the Pars may find it tough to add to the solitary league win on the road so far this season.
Pars manager Allan Johnston celebrated his 43rd birthday on 14th December and he will be wanting to celebrate that with a win over the club he managed to the Second Division championship and Scottish Challenge Cup success in season 2012-2013.
| Pars v Queen of the South: The Full League Record | ||||||
| . | P | W | D | L | F | A |
| At East End Park | 34 | 23 | 5 | 6 | 84 | 37 |
| At Palmerston Park | 36 | 13 | 5 | 18 | 46 | 61 |
| . | ||||||
| Division One (before 1975) | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 31 | 25 |
| Division Two (before 1975) | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 35 | 31 |
| First Division (since 1975) | 29 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 55 | 36 |
| Second Division (since 1975) | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 5 |
| Championship (since 2016) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 70 | 36 | 10 | 24 | 130 | 98 |
The Pars record against the Dumfries men is fairly good winning more matches than they lose and draw put together. There have been 70 league meetings between the clubs with the Fifers having won 36 of them, QOS 24 with 10 having been drawn. .
|
Milestones v Queen of the South (away) |
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|
Last League Victory |
26/02/11 |
3-1 |
Div One |
|
Last League Defeat |
02/10/10 |
0-2 |
Div One |
|
Best League Victory |
02/05/09 |
3-0 |
Div One |
|
Worst League Defeat |
13/12/75 |
2-5 |
Div One |
In the last dozen league meetings Dunfermline have won seven, lost five and there have been no drawn league matches since March 2008.
Last 12 League Matches v Queen of the South |
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|
Date |
H/A |
F-A |
W D L |
League |
| 27/08/16 | H | 0-1 | L | Championship |
| 16/04/11 | H | 6-1 | W | Scottish Division One |
| 26/02/11 | A | 3-1 | W | Scottish Division One |
| 11/12/10 | H | 1-0 | W | Scottish Division One |
| 02/10/10 | A | 0-2 | L | Scottish Division One |
| 27/03/10 | A | 0-2 | L | Scottish Division One |
| 13/03/10 | H | 3-1 | W | Scottish Division One |
| 01/12/09 | A | 2-1 | W | Scottish Division One |
| 26/09/09 | H | 1-4 | L | Scottish Division One |
| 02/05/09 | A | 3-0 | W | Scottish Division One |
| 31/01/09 | H | 0-2 | L | Scottish Division One |
| 13/12/08 | A | 2-1 | W | Scottish Division One |
Last visit to Palmerston Park - Saturday 26th February 2011
The match was goalless at half time but in 51 minutes. McDougall`s delivery was met by Liam BUCHANAN and the ball was bundled over the line for the Fifers to take the lead.
Four minutes later Bob HARRIS scored the own goal of the season. Under pressure from Andy Kirk the Queens defender presumably was looking for a fellow defender sent the ball sweetly past Hutton from an angle on the right and it was 2-0.
McLaren delivered that from the left, Smith came out and failed to take and when Weatherston turned the ball back into the six yard box it was 30 year old Colin McMENAMIN who forced the ball home.
David Graham produced some magic on the right flank, skinned his markers and pulled the ball back from the byeline for McDougall to thrash a shot on target but Hutton beat that away but CARDLE was perfectly placed to net number three.
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH: David Hutton. David Lilley (c), Craig Reid, Bob Harris. Ryan McGuffie, Rocco Quinn (Ian McShane 45), Danny Orsi. Willie McLaren. Colin McMenamin, Derek Holmes, David Weatherston.
SUBS NOT USED: Roddy McKenzie, Kevin Holt, Kieran O`Hear, Ryan Smillie
YELLOW CARD: Harris (14), Lilley (48), McMenamin (57), Orsi (63),
SCORER: McMemanin (68)
DUNFERMLINE: Chris Smith. Calum Woods, Chris Higgins, Alex Keddie, Austin McCann (c). Steven McDougall, Martin Hardie, Gary Mason, David Graham. Liam Buchanan (Joe Cardle 75), Andy Kirk (Ryan Thomson 84).
SUBS NOT USED: Alex Burke, Jordan White, Kyle Allison
SCORER: Buchanan (51), Harris (og 55), Cardle (88)
How they stand
| Queen of the South . | Dunfermline |
| Current League Position | |
| 6 | 7 |
| Last Six League Form | |
| LLLLLD | DDLWDW |
| League Points | |
| 19 | 16 |
| Goal Difference | |
| -6 | -7 |
| Home / Away League Records | |
| P8 W3 D1 L4 | P8 W1 D2 L5 |
Dumbarton and St Mirren have both left Palmerston Park this month with all three points. .Dunfermline have won just one away match in this league campaign - at The Paisley 2021 Stadium v St Mirren
| Recent Form - | ||||||
| . Queen of the South | .
. .. |
. Dunfermline . | ||||
| . Falkirk (A) | D | 2-2 | . Morton (H) | W | 2-1 | |
| . St Mirren (H) | L | 2-3 | . Ayr United (H) | D | 1-1 | |
| . Dumbarton (H) | L | 1-2 | . .Buckie Thistle (A) | W | 5-3 | |
| . Albion Rovers (A) | L | 1-2 | . St Mirren (A) | W | 1-0 | |
| . Hibernian (A) | L | 0-4 | . Dundee United (H) | L | 0-1 | |
| . Alloa Athletic (H) | W | 2-0 | . Dundee United (A) | L |
0-1 |
|
After winning five Championship matches in a row, Queen of the South have now gone ten without a win. Stephen Dobbie is the league`s leading goalscorer on nine goals and between them Dobbie and former Pars striker Derek Lyle have accounted for 16 of Queens twenty league goals.
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Morton): Sean Murdoch: Conner Duthie (Ryan Williamson 58), Callum Fordyce (c), Lee Ashcroft, Jason Talbot: Kallum Higginbotham, John Herron (Nat Wedderburn HT), Rhys McCabe, Paul McMullan: Nicky Clark (Farid El Alagui 84), Michael Moffat.
SUBS NOT USED: Michael Paton, Joe Cardle, Gavin Reilly, David Hutton (GK)
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH (v Falkirk): Lee Robinson: Jamie Hamill, Andy Dowie, Chris Higgins, Jordan Marshall: Darren Brownlie, Grant Anderson (Daniel Carmichael 82), Mark Millar (Owen Moxon 89), Kyle Jacobs: Derek Lyle (Ross Fergusson 85), Stephen Dobbie.
SUBS NOT USED: Scott Hooper, Ryan Nelson, Dean Brotherston, Jim Atkinson (GK)
Referee will be John McKendrick
C`mon Ye Pars!
Footnote: The return match at East End Park on Saturday 18th February 2017 has been postponed due to Queen of the South`s Irn-Bru Cup Semi Final due to be played that day. A re-arranged date for the game has still to be set.
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