Goal-shy Spiders barely threaten
Poor display in Coatbridge by Queen’s
Queen’s Park produced a poor performance as they slumped to a fourth straight league defeat on Saturday.
A goal in each half from Steven Boyd and Ryan Wallace earned Albion Rovers all three points at the Exsel Group Stadium.
The Spiders rarely threatened which will be of huge concern to boss Gus MacPherson, whose side have scored just one goal in their last four outings.
This run of form will also be on the minds of Queen’s Park’s committee.
But they have additional worries, if yesterday’s reports are to be believed, with MacPherson on the shortlist to replace Alex Rae as St Mirren’s new manager.
MacPherson – who was in charge of the Buddies for six-and-a-half years – is said to be in the running alongside Alloa Athletic boss Jack Ross, former Dundee United gaffer Mixu Paatelainen and ex-Saints midfielder Jamie Fullarton.
St Mirren are bottom of the Championship after taking just four points from a possible 24 and well off the pace when it comes to targeting a top-four finish.
MacPherson’s qualities, it would appear, are exactly what a struggling club should be looking for – the Buddies board know they cannot afford to get this appointment wrong.
Speculation surrounding the future of MacPherson cannot be used as an excuse for a listless display in Coatbridge with Rovers deserving of their victory.
In truth, this match was not much of a game to write home about with few goalscoring chances, although the two sides enjoyed long spells of domination both in terms of possession and territory.
Rovers bossed the opening stanza and took the lead in the 31st minute.
It was a lovely goal. Paul Willis fired in a cross from the right-hand side with Boyd taking a terrific first touch to create time and space for him to whack the ball past keeper Willie Muir with his second.
The Spiders were on top after the interval but lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
That said, they could have snatched a point as time ran out. Craig McLeish crossed to Dario Zanatta but his effort was tipped over the bar by Ross M Stewart.
In injury-time, Wallace wrapped it all up for Rovers with a cool finish.
Queen’s Park will aim to bounce back, with MacPherson at the helm, in the fourth round of the IRN-BRU Cup at Dunfermline Athletic this Saturday.