Trip To Dumfries.

[Frank McGarvey' wonky legs]

2 defenders with dodgy knees the other two defenders just plain dodgy.

Top 6 guaranteed this year then.

[lovestreet]

MATCH REPORT / REPORT: QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 4-2 ST MIRREN

Report: Queen of the South 4-2 St Mirren

JULY 24, 2013 BY ADMIN

By Stuart Gillespie at Palmerston Park

Four is not Saints favourite number in pre-season. For the third friendly in a row they conceded four goals as their losing friendly run continued against Queen of the South this evening.

The Doonhamers deservedly enjoyed a half-time lead thanks to Stephen McKennas volley but it looked as if Saints would take control when Gary Harkins brought them level at the start of the second half.

But they were level for only a few minutes when Danny Grainger was short with a header back to Christopher Dilo and the keeper brought down Gavin Reilly, Michael Paton scoring from the spot.

Another terrific goal had Saints level again as Gary Teale chipped Callum Antel, but in the last 20 minutes Queens took control with Derek Lyle bagging a brace while he and others passed up plenty of chances to make the win far more convincing than 4-2.

Dilo had started in goal with David Cornell injured, fellow new signings Harkins and Dillon also in from the off. Grainger played on the left of midfield in a 3-5-2, with Thomas Reilly joining Steven Thompson up front.

Queens looked brighter in the opening stages, a few attacks coming to nothing before Michael Patons fierce shot smacked off Saints skipper Jim Goodwin and went behind. Dilo then tipped a fine Paton free-kick onto the bar for a corner, from which McKenna looped a shot over the top. A terrific ball from Harkins out to David van Zanten allowed the fullback to get in a cross to Steven Thompson for a rare Saints chance, but the pass was maybe a bit behind the big striker and he had to readjust himself before seeing his shot blocked.

The home side were looking by far the livelier in attack and should have been in front when Lee Mairs pass was blocked by Paul Burns and ran through for Gavin Reilly, but the youngsters shot was well kept out by Dilo. His opposite number Callum Antell was tested for the first time moments later when he had to parry away a deflected Harkins shot before Queens took the lead. Iain Russell made himself some space on the left before crossing for McKenna to volley past Dilo for the opener. The midfielders late run wasnt tracked by the Saints defence, giving him all the time he needed to put his side into a deserved lead.

Saints tried to respond, van Zanten crossing for Thompson but he was always stretching for the ball. Russell blasted over from a good position as Queens looked for a second but Saints best spell of the half then followed, Thompson knocking the ball down for Reilly to produce a volley that was blocked. The corner was cleared back to Grainger and when his cross was headed back across goal by Darren McGregor it looked as if Marc McAusland would fire in the equaliser, only for his fierce volley to rattle the post and somehow bounce away to safety. As the half came to a close McKenna went close to a second, his shot fizzing past Dilos right hand post.

Half-Time: Queen of the South 1-0 St Mirren

Gary Teale and Sean Kelly replaced McAusland and Mair at the break and it was the younger of the subs that nearly brought Saints level within seconds of the restart, Kelly stinging the palms of Antell after a fine run and pass from Dillon. The travelling support didnt have to wait too much longer for the equaliser though, Teale slipping the ball through to Harkins who beat two men and drew Harkins before slotting the ball home at the near post.

Parity lasted less than five minutes. After some confusion Grainger was woefully short with his header back to Dilo and was intercepted by Gavin Reilly. He tried to go round the Saints goalie and was promptly brought to the ground by the Frenchman, who was booked before Paton slotted away the penalty to put Queens back in front. More poor defending gave Paton a chance to make it three soon after but Dilo got down well to hold the shot.

Queens then used all their subs aside from their back-up keeper and it was one of the new players that nearly put them further in front, Dan Orsi going on a fine run before his shot across goal went wide. It was to prove costly as a few minutes later Saints were level again, Teale collecting the ball before producing a fantastic lob over Antell that dropped into the net in slow motion to have the Saints fans singing the traditional song.

Queens had a chance to restore their lead immediately when Dan Carmichael was sent through but his shot was well kept out by Dilo. It was merely a reprieve, Carmichael playing the ball through to Derek Lyle who nutmegged the Saints goalie to have Queens in front once more. They werent content with that lead either, Carmichael lifting the ball over the top as they went looking for a killer fourth.

In the final 10 minutes Saints went looking for their third equaliser of the night. Harkins sent Teale scurrying away down the right and he cut in before aiming for the far post, Antell turning the shot behind for a corner. McGregor then had a header cleared off the line by Lyle before young Jon Scullion on for Thompson - saw his close range shot deflected behind for a corner.

As they pushed for a goal the Buddies were liable to be caught on the break and Chris Mitchell burst away from the tiring Grainger and pulled the ball back for Lyle, only for the striker to somehow put his shot wide. With a couple of minutes left he redeemed himself, Orsi this time pulling the ball back and Lyle made no mistake from close range to seal a deserved win for the Doonhamers.

Full-Time: Queen of the South 4-2 St Mirren

Queen of the South: Antell, McGuffie, Higgins, Young (McShane 56), Durnan, Dowie, McKenna, Burns, Reilly, Paton, Russell.

Subs Not Used: Holt, Mitchell, Carmichael, Slattery, Lyle, Orsi, Atkinson (GK).

St Mirren: Dilo, van Zanten, McAusland (Kelly 46), McGregor, Dillon, Goodwin, Mair (Teale 46), Harkins, Thompson (Scullion 74), Trialist, Reilly.

Subs Not Used: Naismith, Brady, Yaqub, K. Hughes (GK).

Referee: Calum Murray.

Assistant Referee: Brian Templeton.

Assistant Referee: Stuart MacMillan.

Attendance TVC

Edited July 24, 2013 by lovestreet

[Big Yards]

Embarrassing report, sounds like one way traffic! Not good enough even in a pre season friendly

[pozbaird]

Pre-season friendlies should all be behind closed doors and no paying public. It's the same old bollocks every season. You pay a tenner to see us get pumped by Morton, or folk travel down to see us get pumped by Queens of the Stone Age, and before the season has even started, you're pissed off about our prospects. I've got a ticket for the Newcastle game simply because it's my English team. If it had been, let's say, MK Dons or Swindon, I wouldn't be anywhere near it.

If we get pumped 4-2 at Inverness - that's the time to start worrying.

[WirralSaint]

Per-season friendlies or not. We should NOT be losing 12 goals to teams like Charlton, Morton, and QOS.

or even 14

Buddies boss Danny Lennon is urging his players to give him every last drop of effort this season ... on a daily basis.

Lennon reckons that getting into the habit of keeping up high standards – including at training sessions – means his players will reap the rewards on a Saturday afternoon.

“I know it’s a big ask but, if they bring everything they have to training on a daily basis, it will become a habit and they won’t drop these standards in matches.”

Just empty words if you can't show anything to back up that anyone's listened to them.

If they are giving him every ounce of effort then sadly it must just be lack of capability I guess.

[HSS]

Thompson hasn't scored in three matches.

Totally useless. Wage thief. Time to get shot.

As much as I love Big Thommo........he has been away tae f'ck since we won the Cup.

[Leicester Saint]

or even 14

14?? 4-0, 4-2, 4-2? 3 x 4 = 12, or have I missed something!?

[Mr Zo]

Worrying that the standard of opposition has got worse in our last 3 games but we are still steadily shifting 4 goals a game.

I think Inverness will comfortably win on the first game of the season and this place will go into meltdown.

[saltcoatsbuddie]

pre season friendlies or not ,same guys making the same mistakes ,but know they will be in team if not injured ,poor isn't even close to how bad we are ,if lennon thinks this will be good enough we are in for a very long slog

[shull]

Wonder how the Dildo is getting on

In, you mean ?

[JJ McG]

Worrying that the standard of opposition has got worse in our last 3 games but we are still steadily shifting 4 goals a game.

I think Inverness will comfortably win on the first game of the season and this place will go into meltdown.

We'll take a pounding in inverness, thats a stick on.

[saint in exile]

Just got home and saw the result. Very glad I've had a few sherbets! Pre season or not, this is sh*te! No way should we be shipping 12 goals in three games. Certainly looks as though we are sadly lacking in key positions.

[whydowebother]

Against the general consensus , I think we will register our best season for some time in the league.

I admit that the idea of choosing so called easier opposition for pre season games allows a run out and the chance to get confidence up should we get good results, however I would rather iron out issues in these games prior to league starting.

3 new signings will be announced prior to season start to add to what we have , we will be fine and roll on new season

[saltcoatsbuddie]

Just got home and saw the result. Very glad I've had a few sherbets! Pre season or not, this is sh*te! No way should we be shipping 12 goals in three games. Certainly looks as though we are sadly lacking in key positions.

agree only problem is ,,key positions we are lacking in are ,keepers,defenders ,midfielders and forwards,apart from that we are ok ,according to some we have some kind of messiah as our manager

[JJ McG]

Against the general consensus , I think we will register our best season for some time in the league.

I admit that the idea of choosing so called easier opposition for pre season games allows a run out and the chance to get confidence up should we get good results, however I would rather iron out issues in these games prior to league starting.

3 new signings will be announced prior to season start to add to what we have , we will be fine and roll on new season

3 signings aswel as grainger or is that including grainger?

[santaponsasaint]

Just back, Another dreadful performance, Young keeper done well, Teale done well when he came, Grainger was ok tired towards the end of the game, He hits a good dead ball, Big Tommo wont need to have his strip washed never broke sweat the big lazy fecker, Plastic pitch was shocking, very slow, 3 games lost 12 goals yet Lennon make it sound like its been a great pre season, Guy has not got a clue,

Rumour is that Grainger will sign a contract with us, Will be a good signing when he is really match fit

Edited July 24, 2013 by santaponsasaint

[DannysRevolution]

3 signings aswel as grainger or is that including grainger?

Hopefully not including!! Need as many as possible!!

[Drew]

Just back, Another dreadful performance, Young keeper done well, Teale done well when he came, Grainger was ok tired towards the end of the game, He hits a good dead ball, Big Tommo wont need to have his strip washed never broke sweat the big lazy fecker, Plastic pitch was shocking, very slow, 3 games lost 12 goals yet Lennon make it sound like its been a great pre season, Guy has not got a clue,

As long as you enjoyed yourself.

[barney]

none of the pre season games mean anything and to a certain extent is good to get all the calamities at this stage. Problem is that I don't think that Danny can sort it out. Time will tell.

[NeilPar72]

Its a pre season game...they mean nothing. Man Utd have lost two so far, City also lost 2 games in South Africa.

I applaud every single saints fan who went down to Palmerston tonight but I cant see the appeal in paying money not to see us play our first 11 in a non competitive match.

Bring on the real stuff next weekend.

[windae cleaner]

Just back, Another dreadful performance, Young keeper done well, Teale done well when he came, Grainger was ok tired towards the end of the game, He hits a good dead ball, Big Tommo wont need to have his strip washed never broke sweat the big lazy fecker, Plastic pitch was shocking, very slow, 3 games lost 12 goals yet Lennon make it sound like its been a great pre season, Guy has not got a clue,

Rumour is that Grainger will sign a contract with us, Will be a good signing when he is really match fit

Big Thommo won't be break sweat as he's the only forward we have i'm afraid

[linwood buddie]

true these games are only pre season training games and players don't want injured but this is the same for both teams ,what we need to realise is unless we add a couple of decent players between now and we play ict we are going to get pumped and its a good thing the game with celtic is off imagine getting hammered 2 weeks in a row and the affect it would have on the fans and club

[Bart Simpson]

Just back, Another dreadful performance, Young keeper done well, Teale done well when he came, Grainger was ok tired towards the end of the game, He hits a good dead ball, Big Tommo wont need to have his strip washed never broke sweat the big lazy fecker, Plastic pitch was shocking, very slow, 3 games lost 12 goals yet Lennon make it sound like its been a great pre season, Guy has not got a clue,

Rumour is that Grainger will sign a contract with us, Will be a good signing when he is really match fit

Guy has gone. Carlisle I think...

[whydowebother]

3 signings aswel as grainger or is that including grainger?

By all accounts including , though I have no inside knowledge or secret PM messages to offer.

The Grainger thing is not certain.

[HSS]

Dannys view.........

http://www.saintmirren.net/pages/?p=25223