Spiders can’t get a break

Kilmarnock .............. 2 Queen’s Park ............ 0

Queen’s Park boss Gus MacPherson believes the Betfred Cup was a good experience for his players but was puzzled by the fixture schedule.

The Hampden Park gaffer questioned why his team were to play four games in a row while the two full-time clubs in group H were given a week’s break between two games.

MacPherson’s Spiders, who finished fourth in the table, fought valiantly but were eventually broken down by a persistent Kilmarnock who ran out 2-0 winners on Saturday.

He said:“We had St Mirren Tuesday and Kilmarnock today, so that was a challenge for our players, to go back to back. I think it was only Queen’s Park and Spartans that didn’t get a break, they played four games back to back but the full-time teams, they get that split.

“Last year there was two full-time teams in our group and we were the ones who had to go midweek down to Berwick, it doesn’t make sense.”

Queen’s defended well and thwarted the attack of Steve Clarke’s men until the 62nd minute as Eamonn Brophy netted before Kris Boyd made sure of the points with an injury time penalty.

Dean Kindlan, who signed from junior outfit Wishaw, was one of the new signings to test his abilities against Premiership opposition.

MacPherson added: “It’s great for the players because some of our players were last year playing League One Junior football, not even the Super League.

“So when the draw comes out they get excited that they are playing St Mirren and Kilmarnock.

“We don’t get too excited, we just have to sit there and hope that they can hang in there and play in those games. But to be fair to them in both games they were a credit to themselves.”