Managers post Queen of the South

01/02/20: link to the post match comments of both Stevie Crawford and Allan Johnston

It is always pleasing to record an away win but Stevie Crawford was delighted with the response that he has had from his players since losing to Morton on 11th January.

“We had a run of defeats but the Dundee performance was very good, a convincing victory on the night and we have shown another way of winning a game today. That is very pleasing considering coming down to Queen of the South is never an easy place to come.

“We went a goal behind, got ourselves back into the game and found ourselves ahead only to see the game go level again with a penalty kick. Dom again put in a good delivery and Ashy (Lee Ashcroft) goes and scores the winner so it is very pleasing.”

All three goals came from corners but Stevie laughed at how crazy that was:-

“We have not scored from setplays all season then all of a sudden three come in one day. It is something that we will to continue to try and work at. There is nothing better than when something comes off.

“Dom (Thomas)’s deliveries and the aggressive runs that both Ashy and Danny (Devine) made going in to header the ball as well. I am delighted with that side of it.”

In a division of fine margins being a real threat at setpieces could be an ace card to play in the second half of the season?

“Yes it is that. Any away game is a difficult game in this league and if we can tidy up in that aspect and hopefully score more goals from setplays it will definite give us the chance to get more points to climb this league.”

Middle to front the team played with a decent amount of freedom. They always looked threatening, do you sense a fresh energy there with the new signings?

“I have always said, and it is not being flippant with a remark, I think that we have goals in this team. The hardest thing sometimes is to put the ball in the back of the net. Great credit goes to the boys at the back today. Queens has obviously worked on something, Hamilton played out on the left hand side. They were putting long diagonals on top of Aaron Comrie and yes they got joy from it at times but we didn’t buckle. We found a way of winning the game today”

Albeit both central defenders scored but a debut goal for 19 year old Gabby McGill must have pleased you?

“It is great for him to score your first goal for the club and I have said over the last number of weeks that Gabby has been very patient in waiting to get his opportunity. He has continually worked hard on the training ground, he is still young and he has a lot of development in him.

“We have been lucky to bring Jonathan (Afolabi) in to help lead that frontline as well. We have competition for places now with Nizzy, Jonathan, Lewis McCann and Gabby.”

How did you feel the two debutants played?

“I don’t wait to take anything way, it was a team performance. I have just said that to them in there. We could have gone up the road accepting maybe coming away from here with a point given the way the game went but I felt to a man that we managed to try and grind it out. It is pleasing to come away with three points.”

You have over three weeks until your next game, how are you going to spend that time?

“For the players who have had a lot of game time I think it is important to let them recharge the batteries. This week they will get a day off here and there but I am very keen to organise a bounce game next Saturday for the boys who have not played lots.

“We have also got a reserve game on Tuesday (v Morton at Kelty ko 2.00pnm) and then possibly have to look at arranging a game the following week because I think with that period without games it can sometimes catch up with you.

“It is a wee bit of a challenge but it is one we feel a lot better about having taken six points from the last two games.”

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