It is a quick turnaround for both Queen’s Park and Arbroath when they meet at Hampden on Tuesday night just three days after their last Championship outing.
The Spiders head into the game on the back of a 3-1 defeat from league leaders Dundee United with The Red Lichties also looking to bounce back after the loss of an injury time goal cost them a win against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
It is the third meeting of the season between the clubs, after two matches in a week back in August, with Queen’s Park out to complete a third success at a third ground after a 2-1 victory at The city Stadium was followed by a 1-0 success at Gayfield.
Head Coach Callum Davidson spoke to QPTV and he covered:
– Looking up and down.
– Tweaks to get performances right at Hampden.
– Getting the balance correct for improving Arbroath.
– Winning points at home needs to be better.
– Arbroath knowledge.
_ Options.
The cinch Championship so far
Queen’s Park’s summer success at Gayfield made it nine points from nine at that time with Arbroath pointless after their first three outings. Few would have predicted that by the end of the following month Dick Campbell’s side would be ahead of the Spiders however a run of four successive wins laid the platform for that to happen.
Neither side had an enjoyable autumn and they headed into the winter without the managers who had faced each other in the opening weeks of the season.
Queen’s Park replaced Arbroath at the foot of the table however they have swapped places again recently with the Black and White Hoops moving into the tightly packed area that lies between fifth and ninth.
The experienced Jim McIntyre was installed as the new Arbroath manager and after coming through a period where injuries were so bad that goalkeeper Ali Adams was used as an on-field player (and scored a fine goal at Raith Rovers), recent draws with Dunfermline and Inverness will have the maroon men believing they can close the six- point gap to the second bottom Highlanders and the seven point one to QP.
Queen’s Ruari Paton notched his twelfth Championship Goal of the Season at Tannadice on Saturday, six ahead of team-mates Dom Thomas and Jack Turner. The departed Jermaine Hylton tops the Arbroath goalscoring charts after scoring six goals in the Championship during his time at the club with Jay Bird top of the current players with four.
Squad News
The First Team Squad were in for training on Sunday with Head Coach Davidson using that session to check on a number of knocks picked up at Dundee United. The only confirmed absentees are Charlie Fox and Grant Savoury who are continuing their recovery from injuries.
Click HERE to buy tickets for the game.
Last time out – Cinch Championship
Arbroath 0 Queen’s Park 1
August 19, 2023
Queen’s Park – Callan McKenna, Ben McPherson, Will Tizzard, Charlie Fox, Cameron Bruce (Liam McLeish 83), Jack Thomson, Jack Spong, Barry Hepburn (Tommy Robson 74), Dom Thomas, Patrick Jarrett (Jack Turner 65), Ruari Paton.
Unused substitutes – Calum Ferrie (G/k), Alex Bannon, Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia, Lewis Reid, Louis Longridge, Ricky Waugh.
Arbroath – Derek Gaston, Aaron Steele, Scott Stewart, Ricky Little, Thomas O’Brien, Joao Baldé (Craig Slater 78), David Gold, Michael McKenna (Ryan Dow 46), Leighton McIntosh, Mark Stowe (Jay Bird 66), Jermaine Hylton (Kenan Dünnwald-Turan 66).
Unused substitutes – Ali Adams (G/k), Keaghan Jacobs, Jess Norey, Scott Allan.
Referee: Scott Lambie
Read the Match Report – Arbroath 0 Queen’s Park 1
