League 2 featured match

Third-placed Queen’s Park face Arbroath at Hampden this weekend, looking to close the six-point gap on the League 2 leaders.

Gus MacPherson’s men are proving to be extremely dependable in defence but scoring goals has proved a bit more difficult of late.

Last weekend, Queen’s played out their third goalless draw in four games but MacPherson said: “With the Arbroath v Albion Rovers game called off last weekend some people may say that we slipped up a bit by not winning at East Fife.

"However, we kept a clean sheet away from home against a side full of good players so there is no need to be disappointed.

“There has been a lack of goals recently but if you had seen our two home games against Annan and Clyde you would wonder why. We created plenty of chances but I would admit that away from home we have not been as threatening as I would have liked.

“Berwick and East Fife are good sides and it shows how far we have come when a draw and a clean sheet in these games is not seen as a very positive result.

“Gary Naysmith said afterwards that they had changed their tactics to face us. We have earned a lot of respect this season and teams are not going to let us play so we need to learn to try other things in that area.”

MacPherson added: “Goalscoring has not really been an issue with Arbroath and, as a result, they are the favourites for the title. They have been pretty free scoring and well done to Simon Murray in getting his move to full-time football.

“A couple of contacts at other clubs called me about him and I told them to sign him if they got the chance. He has done well to go to Dundee United as their manager Jackie McNamara has a great record of dipping into the lower leagues and finding players.

“However, they are not a one-man team or a one-man attack as they are very potent middle to front. Playing with Paul McManus will have helped Simon as he is a very experienced and intelligent striker and they make a great partnership.

“They also have Kevin Buchan and Jack Smith to call on, as well as Dylan Easton who has just joined. However, we showed up at Gayfield that we can hurt them as well and we won that game. They have good options but I have confidence in my team that we can find the net.”

Craig Stewart