Match Report - By Steven Mew

City recorded back to back clean sheets for the first time this season but were left lamenting the lack of a cutting edge in front of goal following a stalemate against Queen’s Park yesterday evening.

Mark Wilson’s side, of course, are desperate for victories in order to pull themselves away from danger at the bottom of the table. However, in isolation, the two draws in against high flying Edinburgh and a greatly strengthened Queen’s Park side on a rich vein of form undoubtedly gives City something to build on.

The Manager opted to freshen up his side from Saturday with three changes as Ryan McCord, Andy Jackson and Olly Hamilton came in to the starting 11, with the latter taking up a fairly unfamiliar wing-back role on the right side.

The visitors, with former City boss Ray McKinnon at the helm, recruited well over the last couple of months and travelled to Glebe Park in a positive frame of mind having only lost just once in their last seven league matches.

It was the visitors who controlled much of the first half however City would threaten first after 8 minutes when Alex Petkov, making his home debut, headed wide from Paul Allan’s corner.

The Spiders’ came close at the other end five minutes later when a header from Peter Grant struck the post before being scrambled away to safety. Shortly after, fellow new recruit Craig Slater was then denied by an excellent block by Dougie Hill.

Queens’ Park continued to put pressure on the home rearguard with a succession of corners which they were unable to take advantage of.

City’s best opportunity of the first half would fall for Jonathan Page on 34 minutes when he headed just inches wide of the post from Paul Allan’s floated corner.

Olly Hamilton was having plenty of joy down the right hand side, exploiting Hibs loanee Josh Doig with his pace however the final ball was just lacking on each occasion.

Five minutes before the break, the visitors should have been ahead when skipper David Galt made some space for himself just inside the box however Lewis McMinn was equal to his effort, pushing the ball away to safety.

Shortly into the second half, Queens’ top scorer Salim Kouider-Aissa tried his luck with an audacious looping volley after a poor clearance by McMinn however the effort lacked the power required and was comfortably gathered by the City stopper.

Barely a minute later, a ball over the top sent David Galt scampering down the left hand side of the box before forcing McMinn into a fine save.

Just after the hour mark, City had their first effort on target when Paul Allan floated a ball forward for Andy Jackson who held off his man before striking a low shot which was parried away by Muir with no takers for the rebound. A couple of minutes later, Rhys McCabe did well to get to the by-line however his cross flashed right across the face of goal, just crying out for a touch.

The visitors came back into it with Craig Slater firing a shot into the side netting whilst David Galt volleyed over after the ball was cleared out to him on the edge of box. Kouider-Aissa was next to threaten with a low shot that looked destined for the bottom corner however McMinn got down well to keep the effort out.

As the game approached the final quarter hour City rallied late on as they went in search of the winning goal. Alex Petkov was proving to be a real handful at set-pieces when he headed wide from a Paul Allan free kick.

City would come closer four minutes from time when the ball fell kindly for substitute Kieran Inglis just inside the box however his powerful volley was deflected over the bar for a corner.

A minute later, City had one last opportunity to snatch the points when Ryan McCord was fouled right on the edge of the box. Paul McManus stepped up and fizzed his effort right through the wall but it lacked direction and Muir was able to parry away.

Overall, City will be hugely satisfied with another clean sheet and continued progress but are fully aware that it is victories, particularly at home, that will be required over the coming weeks in order to put pressure on the sides immediately above them in the league table.

The action continues to come thick and fast with Stirling Albion next up at Glebe Park on Saturday.