Killie squeeze through but could have won at a canter
QUEEN’S PARK 0 KILMARNOCK 1 Murray (45)
Euan Murray’s first-half header was enough to see Kilmarnock progress at Firhill with the Rugby Park side worthy winners. However manager Tommy Wright believes the winning margin should have been greater.
Wright said afterwards: “It should have been a bit more comfortable especially when you look at the chances we had in the second half.
“Their goalkeeper made a number of good saves, especially the one from their own player, and all you need is a mistake or a wonder goal and you could be facing a replay.
“However, we are through and I am pleased with that. We have been looking for goals from Euan and I am delighted that he got one but overall, we should have scored more.”
The Ayrshire side’s first attempt came in seven minutes when Oli Shaw met Chris Burke’s corner, but his header flew over.
The striker was denied a minute later when he burst clear only for Calum Ferrie to block with his chest.
Three minutes later Ferrie stuck out a boot to deny Scott Robinson after he had been released by Rory McKenzie’s clever pass from the edge of the box.
Queens responded with Connor Smith exchanging passes with Luca Connell on 15 minutes before curling a shot wide from 18 yards.
Six minutes later the hosts looked set to take the lead when Michael Doyle met a Luca Connell corner with a fierce header with Sam Walker diving to his right to produce a stunning one-handed save.
Ten minutes from the break Shaw stooped to head past Ferrie, however the ball hit the inside of a post before rolling across the home goal and being cleared.
The first half looked set to end goalless when Chris Burke danced his way past three men and teed up Shaw only for the striker to blast high over.
Kilmarnock, though, had one more chance in them and in injury time Liam Polworth curled over a corner from the left and Murray rose above Stuart Morrison to nod past Ferrie from six yards.
It turned out to be Murray’s last contribution to the game as he was brought off at the break with a suspected hamstring injury with Jack Sanders coming on to replace him.
With an hour gone Polworth darted towards the home goal from the wing and tried his luck but his shot went high over. McKenzie sliced a shot wide shortly afterwards.
Midway through the second period Kilmarnock should have doubled their lead when Robinson robbed Gillespie and rolled a pass to Shaw, who drove straight at Ferrie.
The Spiders shot-stopper beat away a fierce McKenzie drive to keep his side in the tie with 18 minutes left and then repeated the feat three minutes later when he had to claw away a wayward sliced clearance from teammate Jake Davidson.
The hosts’ hopes of grabbing a late equaliser vanished three minutes from time when Doyle saw red for a high challenge on Polworth.
After the game boss Laurie Ellis said: “The Scottish Cup is magic and we were hoping to pull off a great result. Their goalkeeper made a great save at 0-0 and it wasn’t to be but I am proud of the effort and commitment from our players.”