Queen's Park vs East Stirling - Preview

Last updated : 15 December 2006 By Andyboy
That loss two weeks ago broke our 6 match league unbeaten run but the Spiders players will be determined to show it was just a blip and not something any more serious than that.

While we were losing in sunny Fife, The Shire supporters were suffering another dismal defeat. The 9th placed side were beaten 3-0 at home to fellow strugglers Montrose. That was Shire's 6th defeat in 7 games which leaves them also desperate to get back on form at Hampden and pull themselves away from Elgin City in the mire at the bottom of the division.

We can take positives from our Hampden record against Shire in recent years going into tomorrow's game. The last East Stirlingshire victory was in February 2002 when trialist Dylan Kerr scored a hat trick for the Falkirk men in a 4-3 win. Since then they have suffered 5 defeats in Glasgow in their last six games here with one 0-0 draw in November 2004 breaking up the losing run.

We have met twice at Firs Park this season already with the first one a 5-0 Challenge Cup 1st Round victory for Queen's with goals from Paul Ronald, an OG and Richard Bowers giving us a 3-0 half time lead. Two wonder goals from Paul Paton and Shaun Molloy secured an emphatic scoreline on that August night.

We returned at the end of September and suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat. Paul Stewart gave Shire the lead before Ronald levelled for Queen's. Steven Canning's late headed OG gave Shire a win.

Queen's are still without Frankie Carroll and Shaun Molloy with Robert Dunn, Steven Reilly and Stuart Kettlewell are all rated doubtful for Billy Stark. Mick Dunlop returns from suspension.

LIKELY LINE UP
XI:
Mark Cairns, Paul Paton, Mick Dunlop, Damiano Agostini, Richard Sinclair, Alan Trouten, Robert Dunn, Tony Quinn, Paul Ronald, David Weatherston, Mark Ferry

SUBS: David Crawford, Jonny Whelan, Tommy Murray, Steven Canning, Richard Bowers

Key midfield battler, Kettlewell is rated