Sloppy Spiders pay the penalty
Queen’s give away three spot-kicks
Gus MacPherson insists Queen’s Park’s performance in Saturday’s humbling at Airdrieonians was completely out of character.
The Spiders lost a bizarre game at New Broomfield which featured four penalties and a red card.
Iain Russell scored a hat-trick of spot-kicks to set the Diamonds on the road to victory with Scott Stewart also on target.
Queen’s had pulled it back to 1-1 midway through the first half when Ross Millen netted from the spot.
But the Glasgow side were always playing catch-up and the game was over as a contest by the time Airdrie sub Kevin Schmidt was sent off for violent conduct.
Queen’s host Stenhousemuir in a basement battle this Saturday at Hampden – and MacPherson admits how his side responds to this setback is key.
He said: “We’re very disappointed. We set a high standard against East Fife but that dropped considerably in this game.
“Take nothing away from Airdrie – we made some poor decisions defensively and they punished us.
“It was a very unusual performance from us and Airdrie didn’t have to work hard for their goals.
“Our passing was slack and we were very lethargic – it was very unlike us.
“To be fair to the players, they are as down as anybody. They know when they’ve played well and they know when they haven’t played well.
“We have to look at ourselves and see where we can improve.
“You lick your wounds and it is how you react in the next game which is most important.”
Airdrie took the lead in the ninth minute when Russell scored from the spot after Adam Cummins brought down Andy Ryan.
But the Spiders levelled when Millen just got the ball home from a penalty following Daniel Boateng’s barge on Dario Zanatta.
Ryan McGeever was harshly judged to have felled Ryan in the 27th minute which led to another penalty, which Russell converted to make it 2-1.
The Spiders were under the cosh before the break when Stewart powerfully headed home Ryan Conroy’s corner, and their hopes of a fightback were all but dashed when Russell notched his treble following a Millen handball in the box.
Airdrie finished with 10 men after Schmidt blasted the ball at Paul Woods after ref Greg Aitken awarded the Spiders a free-kick.
MacPherson added: “I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in a game where three penalties for the opposition have cost us. But that’s down to decision-making. “If you lose goals, you lose games. “You just have to go back to doing the basics well. If you do that, you give yourself a chance of winning. That’s the frustration you get – it’s about consistency.”