Heart attack for premier visitors

Jul 25 2013 By Andrew McNair
Queen of the SOuth striker Derek lyle literally finds the net against Hearts.

Queens were held to a goalless draw by Hearts in the first match played on their new artificial surface at Palmerston.

The home side completely outplayed their more illustrious visitors and should have won comfortably but the Doonhamers were unable to make the most of their numerous goal-scoring chances.

However new boss Jim McIntyre was more than impressed with his charges after Queens found visiting goalkeeper Mark Ridgers in inspired form.

He said: “I thought we played exceptionally well. I thought we passed the ball really well. T he players took on board what we are trying to do.

“There are good players here and it was a stiff test for us today because Hearts have just come off the back of a really good result midweek, but I thought we started the game really well and that’s important when you’re playing a team from a higher division. Off the ball, we pressed really well.”

Hearts came in to the game on the back of a 5-0 drubbing of Raith Rovers but it was Queens who threatened first. Midfielder Paul Burns flashed a half-volley just wide of the upright inside 10 minutes.

It was then the visitors who possibly should have opened the scoring. Good work by Billy King on the turn teed up Jimmy Walker, who also sent his effort wide.

That was to be the top-flight side’s last chance for a while as McIntyre’s men set about dismantling their lofty opposition.

Danny Carmichael and Derek Lyle forced excellent saves from Ridgers before left-back Kevin Holt almost produced a bit of magic from a corner.

The lofty defender produced a spectacular bicyle kick inside the 18-yard box which the Hearts keeper was happy to see sail inches over the bar.

With 35 minutes gone, the Doonhamers were not letting up. Lyle nodded Chris Mitchell’s well taken free-kick just wide before Ridgers pulled off his save of the
match to deny skipper Chris Higgins’ close-range header. Queens then swung in a
corner and the centre-back smashed the bar with another headed effort.

Somehow Hearts got to half-time level
and made three changes at the break.

It slowed the home side down in the second half but they still had the better chances.

Lyle let the ball slip in sight of Hearts goal and Carmichael fired from close range, producing another good save from the Hearts keeper.

In the end, this was a game that Queens should have won – but with it being a friendly the match will have to go down as a good workout for the newly promoted first division outfit in their first home game of the season.

McIntyre said the club will continue to water the Palmerston pitch ahead of games in a bid to keep their fast-flowing passing game on track as the new pitch beds in.

He added: “We trained on it for the first time on Thursday and it was baking hot but the players have coped with it really well.

“It’ll take a couple of weeks for the pitch to settle but I thought the ball ran really well on it. We soaked it before the game and that’s what we’ll continue to do to keep our fluid passing.”

The Doonhamers take on St Mirren tonight as they end their pre-season campaign with a second tough test against a top flight side in the space of just a few days.

Kick-off at Palmerston is at 7.30pm.

Teams

Queen of the South: Trialist, Mitchell (Orsi, 70), Holt (McShane, 70), Trialist, Dowie (Russell, 60), Higgins (Slattery, 70), McKenna (McGuffie, 60), Burns (Young, 60), Lyle (Reilly, 60), Paton (Durnan, 60), Carmichael. Sub not used: Atkinson.

Hearts: Ridgers; McGhee (A.King, 82), McGowan, McKay, McHattie (Naysmith, 70); Hamill (Robinson, 46), Walker, Tapping; B.King (Carrick, 46), Stevenson (Paterson, 79), Smith (Holt, 46). Subs not used: Macdonald, Oliver, Gordon, Nicholson.

Referee: Euan Norris