Stirling 0-0 Queen of the South

Apr 6 2008 Jordan Costello Reports

QUEENS boss Gordon Chisholm last night admitted he had next week's Scottish Cup semi-final with Aberdeen in the back of his mind after his side grabbed a point against lowly Stirling.

The Palmerston side warmed up for next week's showdown by battling out a dour draw that wouldn't have impressed Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood who was looking on.

And the Queen of the South gaffer confessed he made replacements and organised his side with next week's match in mind.

He said: "When we did show a wee bit of quality once or twice we did create one or two things. Stephen Dobbie looked sharp.

"Big Neil MacFarlane picked up a wee knock and we took him off and Robert Harris got booked and I wasn't taking any chances so I took him off at halftime.

"We tried to win the game but next week is our biggest match in 58 years and I couldn't afford any suspensions or injuries."

Queens had an early chance to take the lead through Stevie Tosh but he fired his effort inches wide. At the other end Andy Graham headed past.

Just before the break Chisholm's side had a decent shout for a penalty when Graham seemed to handle in the box but referee Steven Nicholls waved away the appeals.

Just after the break the Binos had a great chance but Jay Rodriguez's effort was blocked and Chris Aitken shot over.

Albion came close to grabbing the opener in 65 minutes when Rodriguez turned away from his man an unleashed a right-foot effort that was brilliantly pushed away by Jamie MacDonald.

And the visitors had another good claim for a penalty when Graham got tangled up with Brian Gilmour in the box but again the referee waved away the appeals.

Stirling's Paul Murphy and Queens' Dobbie both came close late on but failed to break the deadlock.

Binos boss Allan Moore pointed to a host of draws as the reason why his side are in the position they are in.

He said: "That's our 13th draw and if you won half of them and got beat in half of them you are six or seven points up the league and you're safe.

"No disrespect to my players but we've just been that wee bit short in this division."

MoM: Nugent (QOS)