AIRDRIE UTD

QOTS

As I already hinted, there isn’t really much to report here in terms of goalmouth action. Queens had a couple of early threats when ‘Gunther’ Bowey breached the Airdrie back-line but nothing to force McGeown to break sweat. Gow made the best chance of the first half when he beat Gary Wood down the left and deftly cut back for Owen Coyle but the living legend could only sclaff his left footed shot cum chip over the bar when a goal looked probable. Dunn had a superb cross from the left a little late the fell to Vareille’s left peg but the French leg end could only blast high and wide.

Defensively Airdrie looked under little threat. McKenna continued to look comfortable at right back and spooked me a little by looking in a similar mould as Chris Honor – without the cheekbones and pout! McManus looked much more comfortable as Queens didn’t carry an aerial threat whilst McGowan rarely looked troubled thanks to his handy turn of pace. Lovering wasn’t troubled at all and tried to get forward to support Dunn.

In midfield, Marv was his usual self, battling away against Bowey, and despite losing him a couple of times early on, he easily dominated his useful opponent. Stephen McKeown had to fill Hardie’s boots and certainly didn’t let the side down. McKeown has been a handy midfield replacement over the last couple of years. He wins a lot of ball, retains possession, and has a habit of finding the strikers or wingers with neat passes. My only input is that he could be even better if he’d gamble now and again by getting into scoring positions. There wasn’t much on the wings at all. Vareille got the nod on the right. He certainly put in a lot of effort, but there wasn’t much end product. And does he seem to be getting slower? For me, it was an improvement in that position than in recent months, but nowhere near what we need. On the left Dunn has a lot less pace than McLaren and it shows. Dunn did provide some quality moments – and some awful ones too – but for me he is a creative central midfielder who probes for openings.

Up front it was a lonely game again for Coyle and Gow. With Queens playing three experienced giants it was never going to be easy. Gow did manage to lose his marker – Gary Wood – a few times, but didn’t have a very eventful game, though he did look our most likely contributor. Coyle is another story though. Without meaning to be over critical again, he is simply having a torrid time. Most attacks are breaking down with him and his goal touch has seemingly deserted him. We don’t seem capable of playing around him though and are maybe asking too much from a player who’s always been the same. He isn’t getting too many chances in the six-yard box. Maybe that’s an indictment on the rest of the side for playing too direct?

Second half, Coyle had a rather weak looking penalty claim brushed aside by the fattest, most useless ref in history – that’s right – Willie ‘see no evil’ Young. When Coyle did win possession in good position the useless fat, publicity mad ref managed to baffle us by giving a foul against him. McGeown had to make one save with about quarter an hour left but even that was tame. A good point but extremely boring game.