St. Johnstone 0 Queen of the South 0

Last updated : 12 February 2005 By Footymad Previewer

What was a really dreadful game ended in a scoreless stalemate with the main talking point being the number of off-the-ball incidents that went unseen and unpunished by referee Mick McCurry.

Saints came closest to claiming an opening goal just after the half-hour mark when Kieran McAnespie drilled in a long-range shot. The ball cannoned off the cross bar and the defence scrambled it clear to safety. Ten minutes earlier a sweet one-two between David Hannah and Peter MacDonald ended with the Saints' captain's low drive being stopped by an impressive diving save from former Millwall keeper Richard Barnard.

Saints were denied in the 50th minute when a combination of Barnard and Brian McColligan kept out consecutive goalbound headers from Ian Maxwell and MacDonald. Saints' right-wing midfielder, Ryan McCann, spurned a golden opportunity to put his team ahead when he drove his 57th minute shot wide with only the keeper between him and the goal.

From then on the game bubbled along wihtout any real excitement, but Saints almost fell victim to sweeping counter attacks from the Dumfries side.

In the 60 minute Queens' Derek Lyle was clear in on goal but his shot was well held by Craig Samson. Saints almost paid for their own indecision in front of goal with 11 minutes to go when Queens' Gary Wood was put through by Steve Bowey, but the striker pulled his shot just wide.