Dundee Utd2–1QOS

Snow swirled around Tannadice as the match got underwvay and there were shades of deja vu when Stuart Gordon, who was in the Hamilton Accies side which eliminated us from the Skol Cup earlier in the season, put the Doonhammers ahead after only 105 seconds. Alan Main miscued a clearance for a corner and Robertson's corner was headed in by Gordon to give them a shock early lead. Queens shuffled back in defence and held us at bay for most of the first half. On three occasions in almost as many minutes we threatened to equalise. Allan Preston curled a free-kick just past. Paddy Connolly then saw his effort cleared off the line by Stuart Gordon of all people a couple of minutes later. Then Darren Jackson's header was well saved by Davidson. With the snow now lying referee Hope asked for a replacement ball and three minutes from the interval it brought us a welcome change of fortune. Miodrag Krivokapic made a surging run from the back before sending over a cross which Paddy Connolly rose to head past Davidson.

The Queen of the South 'keeper was to prove a real thorn in our flesh in the second half and went on to win the sponsor's Man of the Match Award. The 'keeper brilliantly tipped over a header by Mixu Paatelainen early in the second half. We increasingly pressurised the visitor's defence, but almost fell behind again when Alan Main dashed from goal to block a shot by Johnstone who had broken clear. Almost immediately we made Queens pay for that missed opportunity. Davidson made a fine stop from Mixu Paatelainen, but was eventually beaten shortly afterwards when Darren Jackson knocked down a Ray McKinnon free-kick and Mixu Paatelainen crashed the ball home from close-in. Davidson made fine saves from Mixu Paatelainen, a McKinnon shot on the turn and, Preston and Connolly as we endeavoured to stretch our lead. We held on comfortably enough in the final ten minutes, but although it was not as convincing a result as we would have hoped for, we did get the all-important result on a difficult surface.