Queen of the South boss reckons life could be a pitch against Stenhousemuir

The Doonhamers travel to Ochilview for their latest League One collision and a tricky surface is just one of the tasks for them to overcome in the battle for points

Queens manager Peter Murphy reckons life could be a pitch tomorrow when they clash with Stenhousemuir.

The Doonhamers travel to Ochilview for their latest League One collision and a tricky surface is just one of the tasks for them to overcome in the battle for points.

Stenny have a formidable home record but Murphy is confident his side can conjure up another dazzling display to match last weekend’s 2-1 defeat of Arbroath.

He said: “The pitch comes into game plans along with the weather and the players you have available. All these things you take into account.

“If it is the same pitch they have had for the last few years then it is not the best of surfaces and that will be a factor. We will have to make the players aware of that.

“I think it is the old surface but we have played there many of times. It is quite hard.

“They have a very good home record and have also scored the most goals in the division with 10 – five of them against Annan.

“So, they have that confidence playing at home, but it is up to ourselves to go there and try and impose ourselves on them.

“Blair Alston is one threat and they are quite strong at set pieces and have a team that has been together for a while. They have added to that squad and started okay and they will want to kick on.

“But it is up to us to after getting a good win (against Arbroath) to kick on too and try and continue that good form. If we can pick up draws or wins away then the home form will look after itself.”

Queens have racked up three home league wins on the spin and are now hunting their first league triumph on the road.

Murphy added: “We had Jack Brydon join in training for the first time (earlier this week) so we are looking quite healthy going into the weekend.

“We will see if he is tired or feeling anything and we will assess him on Friday. It might be too early to get him involved but we’ll maybe to get him on the park and we will see how we go.

“We are awaiting work on Fraser Bryden so it will probably be next week before we have him back.

“It is a good position to be in, but the other side is we signed two strikers but have not had them available. Zander Craik has not been available for most of the season so far with injury and Fraser picked up a injury in his first week. We are looking a lot healthier with the squad and we are trying to manage that.”

The Queens boss warned Stenny’s Blair Alston and Matty Yates will need to be watched.

“Their main danger man is Yates,” he said. “He is a very good, creative player and has an eye for goal plus has experience. They have Alston who can create as well and they are quite a workmanlike team, hard to break down.”

Meanwhile, former Queens keeper coach Gordon Marshall has joined St Johnstone from Hamilton after leaving Palmerston last term.

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