Chisholm is glad for the break

Nov 28 2008 by Kieran West Brook, Dumfries Standard Friday

QUEEN of the South boss Gordon Chisholm has welcomed the club’s break from fixtures this weekend.

And Chisholm hopes it will give some of his injured players a chance to recover.

Speaking to the Standard, he said: “It’s come about at the right time.

“This is the first time I’ve welcomed a break, but it really has come at a good time for us.

“It gives us a chance to draw breath, and look at what we’ve been doing.”

Queens have qualified for the next round of the Scottish Cup after finishing in the top four of the league last season, and as such don’t have a match on Saturday.

But last season’s successes seem a distant memory as Queens have been struggling to find form lately, with a lengthy injury list and a poor run of results.

And there were more injury worries after last weekend’s home defeat against Clyde.

Chisholm said: “We’ve had nine players in the treatment room this week. Burns hasn’t been training since his knock at the weekend, and Dobbie picked up a knock during the game as well.

“On top of the injuries we’ve had, and with Sives heading back to Hearts, we’d have been struggling to field a team this weekend.”

Those able to train have been put through an intensive week to raise fitness levels and work on some of the problems the team has had in recent games.

When the team returns to match duties, they face a tough couple of games; away it St Johnstone and then Dunfermline at Palmerston.

Both are flying high in the league, sitting first and second respectively.

But Chisholm is confident that if the Doonhamers can get their injured players back onto the pitch, that they can take the game to whoever they play.

He said: “We’ve already shown earlier in the season that with a full squad we can compete with anybody. But not with this many injuries and the poor form we’ve shown.”

Last time the Doonhamers had a break was following the 6-1 trouncing of Livingston at Palmerston at the beginning of October.

Since then Queens have struggled to show their early form, taking only three points from a possible 18.

The team’s form has left them only five points clear of the relegation play-off spot.

But such is the competitive nature of the Irn-Bru Scottish First division, Queens are also only six points off the top spot.

How they perform in their next couple of games will decide whether their season becomes a late push for promotion or a nervous end looking over their shoulder.

The Queens’ gaffer seems to think that this week’s break could be key to the team’s successes for the rest of the season.