Your away correspondent was looking forward to a day off from the keyboard; a small glass of claret before the game with a chum from work - and then a few small sherbets afterwards to celebrate victory over our old foes. The dream didn't last long. Firstly Homer had to dash off to London on family business, putting paid to the day off for Gulliver. Then any hopes of a quiet build-up to the game were shattered when daughter No1 phoned in desperation as she had a flat tyre and couldn't get the wheel off to change it. Gulliver's mutterings about stupid women came back to haunt him when he spent 25 minutes battering away at said wheel with a hammer ... and it still wouldn't budge. A bad day was getting worse by the minute. Eventually, sad to say, the BBS came to the rescue with a compressor, and we managed to get enough air into the tyre to get to a garage. The only hope was that was the bad news out of the way and events on the park would put a smile back on this grumpy face. It was certainly time for results against the Rovers to take an upward turn. We've only recorded one Hampden victory over them this Millennium. And though they languish at the wrong end of the table, they have a nasty habit of pulling the rug from under our feet. It was the Coatbridge side which put an end to a five-game winning run earlier this season. Aberdeen were vanquished by the Spiders (albeit after 120 minutes and penalties) but we couldn't see off the Rovers four days later. And after the draw, we went five matches without tasting victory, so we had no reason to be complacent today. We did, however, have every right to go into the game with a bit of confidence. We've been playing well, and taking at least a few of the multitude of chances we've created. In addition, the boss had most of his squad available to him. So would Queen's bring equilibrium back into Gulliver's life, or would Rovers plunge him and the rest of the Hoops followers into the depths of despair. It was the same starting XI as last week, in fact there was only one change from the 16 - Robert Dunn replacing the sickly Richard Bowers on the bench. And it was almost a perfect start. Just a couple of minutes in and Weatherston's quick reactions forced Lennon to hoof the ball behind for a corner. Ronald got the nod to Paton's ball in, but Ewing held his effort just under the bar. Rovers were always to rely on the break and they nearly did it to good effect a couple of minutes later. Fortunately for Queen's, Sinclair was just able to cut out the through ball before the eager Felvus could pounce. And it was the visitors who carved out the game's best chance to date after nine minutes. Smith scampered away down the right and delivered a glorious ball into the middle. Dunlop had to get their before Felvus, and he did just, at the expense of a corner. It came to nothing. From a Queen's Park point of view, that was the story of the first 15 minutes, nothing much happened in an attacking sense at all. Rovers were keeping us in check, and looking more than decent going forward. Felvus had another sniff at goal after 18 minutes, but again it was blocked. Things weren't going and the boss knew it. He left his place in the stand to head touchside and deliver a verbal blast at his players. He's not normally a man to let fly like that, but there's no doubt something was needed to waken our ideas. The biggest cheer for a Queen's Park player was reserved for Paul Ronald, who stretched to keep a ball in play and smacked assistant referee Tommy Johnston right on the head. It was one of the few light moments in an increasingly disappointing first half hour. Ronald had a chance to lift the spirits when Weatherston sent him down the left. His cross failed to pass the first man and the brief glimmer of hope died. The one thing about this QP side is that we can change a game very quickly, and we nearly did just that with 39 on the clock. Firstly, a glorious ball from Trouten released Ferry down the left. He cut back inside and let fly and was desperately unlucky to see his effort rattle the bar and be scrambled away. We then won a corner and again came within inches of breaking the deadlock. At last, something to warm the hands, now we needed to finish it off and warm the hearts as well. Richard Sinclair, who had been doubtful before the game, then gave us a wee scare when he went down injured, but soon recovered. Then Paul Paton picked up another silly booking when he bounced the ball in frustration after failing to get a shy. He might have been right about the decision, but he was dead wrong to react in that manner. A bad way to end a bad 45 minutes. Surely it can only get better? Half time Queen's Park 0, Albion Rovers 0. It actually started to get better during the interval with the news that the Hams had breezed into the next round of the Scottish Amateur Cup with a 5-0 victory over Muirend. The score there was 0-0 at the break, now there's a target if ever I heard one. At least we looked awake at the start, with Kettlewell and then Ferry driving forward. Neither managed to turn the move into a chance, but at least it was positive. We then fashioned a shooting chance for Stuart Kettlewell, but he fizzed the low drive inches wide. Four minutes of the second period had provided more grounds for optimism than the previous 45. Rovers then joined in and it took a good Reilly tackle to halt Chaplain at the edge of the box. Tony Quinn has found th4e way to goal in recent weeks and his header from a Paton corner was netbound after 53 minutes. The only problem was Ewings was in the way; damned unsporting that! It mattered little as we took the lead three minutes later with a move that was so good it defied belief of what had gone before. Reilly drove out of defence and fed Ferry. He drove further upfield and fed Weatherston. He scampered past Lennon and cut the ball back for Trouten who drove it into the net with some aplomb. A goal so good from Queen's meant the other side of our nature had to come into evidence. It did, about 49 seconds later as we went to sleep and let Chaplain glance a cross past the helpless Cairns. Having lost the lead so quickly, could we get it back? We would have but for the flag of assistant Alasdair Ross which meant a delightful free-kick move came to nought even though the ball ended up in the Rovers' net. All we needed to compound the sense of disappointment was a goal from Felvus and he went mighty close after 65 minutes, bringing a decent save from Cairns. Moments later referee Nicolls allowed Rovers to take a quick free-kick, some yards away from the infringement, and with the ball still rolling. Smith tore down the left and delivered a cross that Nicoll should have converted. Thankfully for Queen's, he didn't. At least it was a better game, but Gulliver would have settled for a dull 1-0, as long as we got the one. Rovers close again after Cairns spilled a shot from Chaplain, but he reacted brilliantly to block the rebound. The boss had had enough by now and hooked Tony Quinn to send on Robert Dunn after 74. Rovers sent on Donnechy for Lennox a minute later. With 10 minutes to go, goal hero Trouten was replaced by Steven Canning. Mick Dunlop went close with a deflected overhead kick before we got the second with 82 minutes gone. Weatherston burst past Watson and bore down on Ewings before being dumped into the turf by the keeper. Ref Nicolls was right on the spot, and pointed right to the spot. Reilly was Mr Calm as he stroked the ball low to Ewings' right and into the net. Surely we couldn't throw this away again? Rovers tried a last throw of the dice, replacing Creaney with Sim after 87 minutes. Billy Stark responded by taking off Weatherston and throwing on Tommy Murray. Needless to say, we had to go through the mill before the points were secure. Deep into injury time, keeper Ewings sprinted upfield when the visitors won a corner. Cairns got the first fist; Reilly threw himself in front of Sim's shot; the ball spiralled up the park ... and the whistle finally went. It was seldom pretty, but this is exactly the kind of result we didn't get last season. Winning when things are going your way is all very well, but teams that win prizes can win ugly. Could Queen's have learned that art? Finally, before Gulliver heads for the bar, here's today's commercial. QPTV goes live on the internet tomorrow, and it's a must see for all you fans who can't make it to the games ... and for those who can, but want to see it all again. Log on in the afternoon and see it for yourself. Next stop Montrose. I suppose it's too much to hope that we'll put them to bed before the 94th minute?
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