After reading the match report from Walsall's game against Partick, one sent off and two Partick players carried off, I must admit I feared the worst before tonight's game. However, the expected blood bath never happened and in fact an enjoyable game arrived.
Queens made two changes from the Blythe game, Rowe in for McLeod in the back three, and Nesovic started in place of Eadie. Stevie Mallen was back, but could only get a place on the bench.
Throughout, Walsall looked a very good team, although perhaps missing their star striker of last season, Roger Boli who is now at Dundee Utd., and Queens did well to match them, both physically and with the football. But match them they did with both sides looking comfortable in possession although Queens tended to try and play too much through the middle rather than getting the ball wide to the wing-backs. The flowing passing game witnessed against Falkirk did not flow with quite the same impressive swagger, too often the player in possession was left isolated as all his team-mates ran away from him rather than giving an option for the pass. The only player constantly available was Nesovic, who showed some good touches, although is obviously still not fully fit.
In fact Nas did not even make it to half-time. After a heavy challenge from behind, Nas seemed to signal to the bench and after Stevie Mallen had finished his warm-ups he came on for Nas with little over half an hour gone. Stevie looked lively up front as usual but made little impression on the Walsall goal. This was unsurprising as the game was played on the whole in between the two boxes, with neither team really creating what could be described as a clear-cut chance in the first hour.
Walsall came closest to scoring with a powerful header which brought a magnificent save from Mathieson, diving to his right. Despite this it was Queens who took the lead just after the hour. They swept forward on the right wing and when the ball was centred, low to the edge of the box Lee Bailey fired in a first time shot which flew into the far corner of the net. That was Lee's fourth goal in the pre-season games, which is just reward for some fine performances.
Falkirk equalised with what can only be described as a dubious penalty. The ball came over from a corner into a group of Queens and Falkirk players, referee Allison blew the whistle and all the players stopped, neither side really knowing what was happening. Allison pointed to the spot, apparently signalling hand ball, although if any one in the ground saw it I'd love to hear from them, and Falkirk made no mistake from the spot, sending David the wrong way. On reflection a draw was probably a fair result, on possession and chances created.
So Queens finish their pre-season campaign unbeaten, although the best performance came in the first game. The real thing starts on Saturday and a Queens team playing at their best must have a chance of doing something good this season, the question is will we see the team playing at their best often enough. Let's hope so!
AC
| Subs. 12. Mallen 14. Eadie 15. Weir |
Fixtures