Scottish Cup player ratings: Queen of the South

Apr 13 2008 By Scott Mcdermott

JAMIE MacDONALD 7

HAS been a revelation since joining on loan from Hearts. Proved the big occasion does not faze him. Great save from Chris Maguire then denied Lee Miller before being beaten by Barry Nicholson to make it 2-2. No chance with goals.

RYAN McCANN 6

NOT an easy task trying to shackle Sone Aluko but he stuck to it. Got too close to the Dons winger early on leaving himself exposed but improved. Didn't get forward as much as he'd have liked. Not a great day for any defender on the pitch. Booked.

ROBERT HARRIS 6

MATCHED Ricky Foster for pace down the left and along with Jamie McQuilken coped well with the threat of Alan Maybury. Despite Queens losing three, he covered well at back post when ageing centre-backs toiled. Decent display.

NEIL MacFARLANE 7

BRILLIANT unsung hero in middle of the park. Broke up several Aberdeen attacks. Gritty performance from the ex-Aberdeen man but could not prevent old club scoring three. Will be raging he was nowhere near Nicholson at Dons' third.

ANDY AITKEN 5

VETERAN was run ragged at times by Maguire's pace but played role in Steve Tosh's opener when he picked out the midfielder after Derek Soutar had spilled. Like the rest of defence has to take responsibility for woeful defending at Dons goals.

JIM THOMSON 5

FOR the skipper to even be out there just before his 37th birthday deserves credit. Despite a decent start, sloppy defending let him down as goals rained in. Beaten by Andrew Considine for first and entire Doonhamers defence caught out at second and third.

JAMIE McQUILKEN 6

WAS at Hampden for Scottish Cup Final with Gretna in 2006 and experience is crucial to Queens. Tracked back well to aid Robert Harris but wasn't involved enough in attack and failed to cause Maybury real problems.

STEVE TOSH 8

WRITTEN in the stars that he'd score against his old club. Heartbeat of the team. Just before his goal he threw himself to block a Scott Severin shot and that typified his display. Fine finish for his goal and made pass for Sean O'Connor's strike.

PAUL BURNS 7

ALWAYS felt he had the pace to get past Jackie McNamara. Put a shift in helping Ryan McCann with Aluko but had a terrific second half. Full of running and dribbling tormented the Dons. Capped display with second goal.

STEPHEN DOBBIE 4

QUEENS' talisman looked lively early on and neither Zander Diamond nor Considine could handle him. His touch was exquisite and he had Derek Soutar scrambling for a shot early on. Injury saw him substituted by Stewart just before half-time.

SEAN O'CONNOR 8

WIDELY regarded as the best target man in the First Division and a major bonus when he was passed fit. Caused Dons no end of problems. His challenge on Soutar created the opening goal then he skinned Considine to slot home Queens' third.

SUBS:

JOHN STEWART - came back to haunt his old club. Set up Burns' goal then went on to hit the winner to silence the Dons boo boys, 7.
ERIC PATON - introduced with seconds remaining, 1.