Keeper says defeat by Spiders has no bearing on play-offs

QUEEN’S PARK 3 ARBROATH 0

Arbroath were brushed aside at the National Stadium but goalkeeper David Hutton reckons there will be no repeat of their lacklustre performance when they face Dumbarton in the first leg of their play-off on Wednesday.

Hutton said: “We were not good enough and we were not at the races.

“They were better than us all over the park, they won every second ball and were more aggressive.”

The tone was set after just 47 seconds when Robbie Leitch blasted a cross home and, with the hosts battling against the drop, a second looked on the cards when Hutton and Spiders star David Galt tangled on 26 minutes.

Referee Steven Reid pointed to the spot and a red card would have seen Hutton miss out on the midweek promotion clash.

However, the keeper escaped with a yellow and redeemed himself with a fine diving save to turn away Sean Burns’ penalty.

Hutton added: “I was not concerned about what card was coming out.

“I left my leg out and he put his leg out to hit mine. He studded me and I have a gash on my leg. He saw me coming and played for it. It looked like a penalty but I don’t think it was.

“He did it a few times throughout the game.

“It was a decent save but to be honest I guessed. I went a bit early and that helped me get a hand to it.”

The second half began in the same manner as the first with Luke Donnelly heading in an early goal and the Queen’s striker volleyed home a fine third with 20 minutes left to see Queen’s secure the relegation play-off spot.

Arbroath were denied a consolation when one-time Red Lichtie Michael White produced a low save to keep out a late Gavin Swankie effort.

Hutton believes Saturday’s reverse will have no adverse effect when Dumbarton arrive at Gayfield in midweek, with the keeper insisting: “The Queen’s Park game is past now so we go in against Dumbarton and give things a right good go. This will not linger. It will be out of our system by then.

“We do not know too much about Dumbarton and they do not know too much about us but we don’t fear anyone and we are looking forward to it.

“We will give it a right good go.”