Kenny Brannigan had to play a frustrating `waiting game` today to see if Paul Burns was eligible to feature in Saturday`s Alba Cup semi-final at Peterhead on Saturday. `Burnsy` did get the OK for the weekend but will miss the next league match against Morton owing to that `red card` on Saturday.
Three other players are sitting on one `booking` apiece and if booked on Saturday would miss the Cup Final itself should we be fortunate to get there.
Brannigan told the Queens Official Site , "Obviously I would have preferred the game at Palmerston. Although they are sitting second bottom of the Second Division I was surprised they had a reasonable home record. So, we won`t be taking them for granted.
"We`ve been banging in goals against lower league sides in cup-ties this season but they`ve all been at home. This time we don`t have the luxury of home advantage and it`s all down to how we perform on the day.
"We`ve been professional with our pre-match preparations and we`ll be staying overnight on Friday in Aberdeen. There are two coach loads going from Dumfries and, as usual, I know I can rely on their vociferous support.
"I`ve known their manager Neale Cooper for years and he`s a great pal of mine. We`ve spent many happy times in Spain together and he`s always immaculate.
"Big Bobby Mann and Dennis Wyness are two of their stalwarts and have been in the game for `yonks`--and neither of them are `mugs`. So I`m expecting a hard-fought battle.
"I haven`t managed to see them in person, but I was gifted a couple of videos by Airdrie of Peterhead in action and I`ve been studying them closely.
"I want to win this game and get to the cup-final! We`re coming off the back of a hard-fought tussle with Dunfermline but I must admit I was disappointed at the press coverage we got. I felt it was very poor!
"We were against a strong wind in that first half but still managed to keep a clean-sheet`. Both our goals were attributed to `goal keeper errors`, but I don`t agree with that at all."We put them under pressure at both goals and Willie McLaren`s strike from the centre circle was just tremendous."
Meanwhile several hundred Queens fans are making plans for the long trip north with seats still available on the Travel Club Coaches.
Image Courtesy of www.qosfc.com