Queen of the South 1-1 Burnley

Jul 20 2008 Chris Sanderson At Palmerston

NEW boy Stewart Kean hit a late leveller to post a sign of how valuable he could be to Queens. The former St Mirren striker struck in 83 minutes just when it looked like Burnley boss Owen Coyle had made a winning return to Scotland.

Ex-St Johnstone gaffer Coyle's summer signing Martin Paterson seemed to have snatched victory for the Turf Moor side.

But Kean - snapped up by Gordon Chisholm after being freed by Buddies in May - ensured a deserved draw with a clinical headed finish.

Queens made a lively start and took the game to the English Championship outfit.

In seven minutes Craig Barr got on the end of Bob Harris' corner but headed straight at keeper Brian Jensen. Jamie McQuilken then teed up trialist striker Gary Arbuckle for a crack at goal but Jensen easily held his shot.

The fast pace continued with one-time Dundee United defender Christian Kalvenes bursting down the left as Burnley started to find their rhythm.

But the home side still looked the more likely and Stevie Tosh fired over a teasing cross in 25 minutes. Unfortunately for Queens, no one was on hand to make the vital connection.

Last season's Scottish Cup finalists then went close twice in as many minutes.

Harris whipped over a cross on the half-hour. Barr drilled it goalwards but Jensen superbly tipped the effort around the post.

Seconds later McQuilken delivered inch-perfectly for Arbuckle to glance wide.

But Queens were hit with a sucker punch as new Burnley star Paterson opened the scoring against the run of play five minutes before the interval.

Joey Gudjonsson looked up and lobbed the defence.

Paterson - a £1million buy from Scunthorpe - burst into the box and drilled the ball across Bryn Halliwell into the corner.

Arbuckle could have boosted his chances of landing a deal with Queens had he taken a golden chance to level in 58 minutes.

Sub Stephen Dobbie found the ex-Clyde man who drove straight at Jensen when one-on-one.

The miss almost proved costly as Burnley had a chance to double the lead. Kevin McDonald found Wade Elliot out wide and he crossed for Paterson to drill past.

A series of substitutions took the edge off the game but Queens' hard work finally paid off when Kean pounced.

Dobbie's corner was dummied by Paul Burns and Kean to planted a header past Jensen.

Burnley almost grabbed a late winner when AlanMahon drove a free-kick wide but that would have been harsh on Queens.