Managers post Queen of the South

17/04/21: links to audio of the post match comments of Stevie Crawford and Allan Johnston

Over a number of weeks results have been tough started Stevie Crawford:-

“I did say that with the performance against Hearts we could have taken all three points but it didn’t materialise that way. We went down to Ayr United, took a point and possibly could have taken all three that day as well and against Dundee, albeit was quite an open game and we had a spell in the second half when we were under the cosh, again we had opportunities to win the game.

“So we were delighted that we were front foot today and created a number of chances. I think Allan (Johnston) even changed his set up during the first half with the problems that we were causing them.

“We scored three good goals, won the game and we have to make sure that we carry that into next week now against Arbroath. I looked at the stats, we had fifteen chances and we have hit the target on ten of them. Good from a striker’s point of view, even though you love to be able to cut inside and curl one into the top corner.

“Kevin O’Hara anticipating Dom Thomas taking it on his right foot and going across the goalkeeper and then Kevin is there for the tap in. That is your bread and butter, that was really pleasing.

“It took a goal like that to get us up and running. I am not one for singling players out but Dom Thomas was magnificent today. For a boy who plays in a wide role, some of the stuff that he did today was outstanding but as I have just said to the boys, credit to them because they gave Dom that platform, as a team they gave him that opportunity to do that.

“He was a handful and we need to try and get Dom on the ball more to allow him to that. It is three points, three points that we badly needed and it is now about enjoying the rest of the weekend before coming in on Monday morning to focus on the Arbroath game.”

Has Dom suffered at times this season with other teams pinpointing him as the threat?

“To be fair you might be better asking Dom that question. I do know that is hard to bring consistency when you are that type of player. People will see that today and then sometimes ask ‘why can’t you get to those levels more often’? That is not a criticism of Dom, they are a dying breed in Scottish football.

“Possibly we were giving him the ball that little bit earlier today, a little bit higher up the pitch that allowed him to show what he was able to do. Is he going on the outside, they ended up doubling up on him and what happens is that we created space for others today to take advantage of that.

“Today, Kevin led the line from the off. I have already said that I am delighted with the goal that he got and, he played his part in the third goal by just nicking it before the keeper. He probably would have loved to have put that one away himself but he showed composure by then picking out Dom who finds Ewan Henderson.

“The positives were the reaction we got. We knew that we had to win the game today and to play under that pressure, having gone a number of games without winning we showed that we have those battling qualities that we had earlier in the season.

“When we went through difficulties times, Queens scored quite late on in the game, our reaction was to go up the park and score again. It is not getting carried away but it is more like us today.”

Now in fourth place you are in the thick of it now and Inverness play Dundee on Tuesday night?

“That game is outwith our hands. We knew coming into today that we had three big games. Three games that we have looked at as a squad that we want to win. We have no divine right to win those games because we know how hard the league is.

“Arbroath will come here on the back of a 4-0 result today, that is a great victory for them but we have to take confidence from ourselves. The players have also to go away and enjoy the weekend because it has been a testing period for us. There are still players in there experiencing their first full season, if you can call this a full season.

“We have had bumps and bruises along the way but we have given ourselves an opportunity and if we perform like that next week we will give ourselves the best possible chance to take all three points”

How pleasing is it seeing goals coming from midfielders?

“It does help. Fraser (Murray) coming on, he has goals in him. That was Ewan Henderson’s first senior goal and he has made an impact since coming in. He is a boy who will want to take the ball in difficult circumstances. He will put his foot on it, he will take the ball and he is not frightened to play a pass to create opportunities for others.

“On the other side, the work rate and determination from the team today was more like us. That is what we are going to need for the last two games.”

Euan Murray missed out today, would you hope to have him back for next weekend?

“It is still too early to know but Euan and Paul Watson missed out with injuries so we were down to the bare bones and to get a performance like that, there were no boys feeling sorry for themselves.

“Queen of the South have been on a great run so it was no mean feat. Allan had his team well set up, it has a lot of pace in it and a lot of credit goes to the boys who played their part today. We will see where we are with injuries come the middle of next week.”

Is it a similar situation with Declan who had to come off early in the second half?

“I think everyone could see that he was carrying his shoulder. I don’t know if he landed awkwardly but he did not want to come off at half time. You could see, up against Obileye in the main during the game and the physicality it needed to go up against him. He was laboured, that is not a criticism of Declan, he has shown the attitude wanting to play for the jersey and wanting to help the team.

“Craig Wighton played his part today and he came off the park having given his lot. He played a massive part in getting us all three points.

“Owain Fon Williams was magnificent. He pulled off two quality saves, especially the one just before half time. People are always quick to pinpoint when a goalkeeper makes a mistake but he played a big part in that as well.

“There are some boys who have dipped away in form, today they showed that it mattered to them. It is not getting carried away but that was more like what we were in the earlier part of the season.”

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