Queen of the South 0 - 0 Ross County: It’s dishonours even in dismal encounter

THE scoreline just about summed up an afternoon in which both sides’ attacking qualities were absent and, in truth, neither side even deserved a point.

County, who went to Dumfries yesterday having won the last four league and cup clashes between the two sides, had every reason to expect to extend that run, and enjoyed the bulk of possession in the first period without ever extending Lee Robinson in the Queen’s goal.

Neutrals would have been hard pressed to identify the protagonists who are marching towards the title and SPL football next season and the side who are fighting relegation.

There was little to enthuse about in a first period which was bereft of a single shot on target by either side.

Incredibly, neither Queen’s or County managed anything which could be remotely described as an attempt on goal until 34 minutes, when the hosts’ Nicky Clark whipped over a corner from the right, but Kevin Holt’s glancing near post header went over.

The Staggies, unbeaten in the league in their last 15 since losing at Hamilton back in August, appeared briefly to be a transformed unit after the interval and it took Michael Gardyne just 19 seconds to test Robinson with a dipping 20-yard shot. But it was a false dawn.

Gardyne had the best chance of the match in 64 minutes after he was allowed a run through on goal after a shocking blunder by Scott McLaughlin, but the Tannadice-bound striker hooked the ball wide from 15 yards.