Derek Lyle
DEREK LYLE paid tribute to Queens’ dogged defenders after the dazzling Doonhamers stretched their lead at the top to seven points.
The striker’s early header sealed a victory which was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests as Allan Johnston’s men made it ten league matches unbeaten.
And Lyle reckons the boys at the back deserve loads of the credit after conceding just four goals this campaign.
He said: “The defence have been great. Myself, Gavin Reilly and Nicky Clarke get the praise but the back four have been brilliant.
“Even today Steven Black has come in and I thought he was man of the match.
“Everyone is doing their bit and we’ve a good squad with people to come back in.
“It was a good win for us and I don’t think anyone could have complained if we’d scored three of four.”
The home side looked fired up and blew the shell-shocked visitors away in a sensational opening three minutes.
They nearly opened the scoring after 60 seconds when Chris Mitchell’s low free-kick spun off the wall and bounced inches wide.
Within a minute they were charging forward again and Gavin Reilly was free inside the box but elected to cross rather than shoot and Scott Durie hacked clear.
But the goal duly arrived from the resultant corner. Mitchell picked out the unmarked Lyle and he powered home a low header.
The Fifers stemmed the rapid flow of early attacks and carved some openings of their own but Lee Robinson stood firm.
Home boss Allan Johnston hailed his men and said: “It was a great team performance but we put ourselves under pressure by not taking our chances.
“Our football was brilliant and someone is going to take a hiding soon.”
“We took a battering in the first half but did ourselves justice in