Queens were thought to be a mid-table team and that’s exactly where they finished in 6th place. Although Queens had some bright patches during the season and finished with a trio of wins, they were dogged by inconsistency.
They began the season strongly with only one defeat in their opening five fixtures, but then mirrored that form with only one win in their next five. The play-offs remained within reach for most of the season, but a slump in March and early April consigned them to mid-table.
Form was unusually poor at home with only five wins registered. In contrast, away form was second only to Livingston with nine away wins and three draws. Queens produced notable big away wins at Falkirk (4-1), Dunfermline (5-2), Dundee United (3-2) and Brechin (5-1).
From the outset it was clear that Queen of the South’s fortunes were inextricably linked to the form of their veteran strikers, Stephen Dobbie and Derek Lyle. When Dobbie was in form, Queens flourished. When he wasn’t, Queens floundered. Despite a good start, Derek Lyle was cast aside in mid-season, leaving Queens without a back-up scorer.
A series of injuries often left Queens with an unsettled defence with Scott Mercer and Shaun Rooney struggling to cement a starting position. This is reflected in Queens having the worst defensive record next to Dumbarton and Brechin.
Overall, it was a season where Queens held steady. They struggle to maintain full-time football and there’s a suspicion that they will face relegation troubles eventually. They rely too heavily on Stephen Dobbie and despite being signed for next season, they need to plan for his retirement/departure.
