QUEENS INJURY PROBLEMS MOUNT UP ON EVE OF INVERNESS MATCH

Paton-Has a big responcibility in mid-field.

Queens have a host of injury problems as they prepare to face Inverness Caley at Palmy on Saturday. Derek Allan,John O'Neill and Paddy Atkinson are doubtful whereas Jim Thomson,Barry Donald and Sean O'Connor are definitely out. There may be a place for Alan Gray and Jon Crwaford in defence and McColligan may return in midfield. God knows what eleven JC will put on the field and it does not look good for a match against a team who are scoring plenty of goals. Inverness have been well served by their shrewd manager Steve Paterson and they have two dangerous strikers in Paul Ritchie and Dennis Wyness. They have also tightened up considerably at the back and will be difficult to break down. Despite a good cup run,the general impression is that Queens are struggling to come to terms with 1st Division oppostion and are having difficulty scoring goals. There is a big responcibility with O'Neill and Paton in midfield. O'Neill has been our match-winner in the past but tends to fade in the latter stages. Paton and McColligan must really start to perform or we will continue to struggle. Bowey it seems is injury prone and the strikers haven't really set the heather on fire. I think we will struggle tomorrow and a draw is the best we can hope for. I hope I am proved wrong but the writing has been on the wall in recent games.l