Flu bug hits Doonhamers

Dec 19 2008 by Kieran Westbrook, Dumfries Standard Friday

Queens

QUEEN of the South’s squad has been dealt another cruel blow, with sickness in the camp adding to a growing injury list.

Sick notes have been coming in thick and fast, with Queens’ strikers Sean O’Connor and Gary Arbuckle both struck down with flu, this week.

And Queens’ gaffer Gordon Chisholm may have to get creative this weekend, with a possible eight first-team players missing out on Saturday’s clash against Livingston.

Stevie Tosh, Bob Harris and Paul Burns are all injured for Saturday’s game.

Andy Aitken is suspended and Craig Reid and keeper Cammy Bell remain doubtful for Saturday’s trip to Almondvale.

And Chisholm is anticipating a very tough game this weekend against the last team the Doonhamers beat at home in the league.

He said: “Last time we played them, we scalped them 6-1 so they’ll be looking to make it hard for us.

“We know that.

“But we’re desperate to get back to winning ways and the only way to do that is by grafting and keeping the head up.”

Livingston currently sit one place above Queens in the league, and are three points clear.

Livingston also have a game in hand over Queens, and another defeat for the Doonhamers will bring them closer to the relegation dog-fight, surely ending all hopes of promotion.

And the Queens’ boss is under no illusions about the importance of this period of the season.

He said: “We really need to get back to winning ways.

“But we can’t feel sorry for ourselves.

“We’ve played the top teams over the last few weeks, and we’ve shown that we’re not far away from them.

“But when we look back on this period of the season, I think we’ll see it has been very costly for us.”

Queen of the South head to Almondvale on Saturday to face a confident Livingston side that beat Ross County 4-1 last weekend.

And Queens will be hoping for the early Christmas present of a badly-needed three points.