Cowdenbeath can count themselves in good company when it comes to the teams who have taken full points from a trip to Dumfries this term and boss Jimmy Nicholl insists they can repeat the dose this afternoon.
Only Hearts, Hibs and Cowden have managed to record away wins over Queen of the South so far, and the fact the Blue Brazil have managed to beat promotion chasing Queens twice this season should stand them in good stead ahead of today’s trip to Palmerston.
While today’s hosts are gunning for promotion, Cowden continue to struggle in the Championship drop zone and remain level on points with Alloa in the fight to avoid relegation.
Having said that though, Nicholl is convinced his players can still record a priceless three points this afternoon.
“I believe the players are always confident of getting a result,” he explained.
“It’s difficult when you are playing the likes of Hearts and Hibs because you find yourself chasing the game, but when we go down Queen of the South we’ll try to keep the ball a lot more than we have done recently and threaten their goal a lot more.
“We’ve got to start scoring goals again.
“In fact, we’ve got to start shooting, never mind scoring goals.
“We’ve been working hard on that all week.
“I’ve said to the lads that we’re in a difficult situation, I believe we’re going to get out of it and it’s all hands to the pump, but for God’s sake play your football and thinking about shooting and scoring goals.
“It’s not all about defend, defend, defend, and thinking we’re going to get a point out of this game.
“I just hope the situation hasn’t got to them because they are not showing what they are capable of producing, nowhere near it.”
Despite having had two wins over the Doonhamers earlier in the season, Nicholl is well aware that Queens ran out comfortable 5-0 winners when the teams last met at Central Park.
“We really poor at Central Park the last time we played them,” he added.
“We were doing alright and it was 1-0 at half-time without them really threatening but I think it ended up being three goals in six or seven minutes and it was just horrific.
“But we’ve played well down there and won there the last time, so our players obviously enjoy going down there for some reason.
“The second half was better against Hibs last weekend.
“It looked as though they were going to dominate for 90 minutes but I thought the second half was a wee bit better.
“I just want the players to get the ball down and start playing.
“I know it’s a fight down at this end of the league but we haven’t played anywhere near the way we can play.
“Is the pressure getting to us?
“I don’t know, but I just want them to relax and play football.”
Cowden will be without on loan Celtic midfielder John Herron, whose season looks to be over after suffering an ankle injury last week, while Dean Brett is also sidelined for two to three weeks with a similar ailment.
However, strikers Sean Higgins and Colin Nish are back from injury and suspension respectively.