Jamie: We've Don it before .. we'll do it again

Aug 24 2008 Gordon Waddell

FC NORDSJAELLAND v QOS

Tuesday, kick-off 6.00pm

Live on BBC 2

JAMIE McQUILKEN saw Queen of the South get knocked down the side of a mountain three times in the biggest game of their lives - but they kept getting up until they hit the peak of their dreams.

And what they did to Aberdeen in a Scottish Cup semi-final makes him and his mates believe they can do it again to Nordsjaelland.

Queens are staring up at another massive climb after their UEFA Cup debut ended in a 2-1 home defeat to Morten Wieghorst's Danes.

But come Tuesday night on the outskirts of Copenhagen, the 33-year-old insists the summit will still be in sight.

Against the Dons last season the Dumfries men took the lead on three occasions - but each time quickly coughed up an equaliser.

You assumed the underdogs' chance had gone - but John Stewart hit the winner in a phenomenal 4-3 triumph that booked a cup final place and their first ever Euro slot.

And McQuilken sighed: "That first leg 10 days ago felt just like the Aberdeen game.

"We made it hard for ourselves then and we've made it hard for ourselves again.

"The last thing the manager said to us before kick off was to keep it tight early on - but if there's a hard way to do something we'll find it.

"To lose a goal after two minutes was shocking. Talk about a mountain to climb - but we got back in the tie and it is far from over.

"The boys believe they can go over and score. We know what's required."

Queens must keep the back door shut this time for starters - a lesson the former Celtic, Falkirk and Aberdeen full-back knows they don't get often enough in the First Division.

He said: "Technically they're better than us on the ball but over 90 minutes we were the best team.

"They certainly didn't cut us open. Their first goal was from a corner and the second strike was soft too - one of the boys never tracked their runner and we got punished.

"Two mistakes have cost us.

"Maybe the team are a bit naive not having played at the highest level before but it is a learning curve.

"You would maybe get away with some of the errors in Division One but the higher you go the more you will get punished.

"But I didn't think there was much difference in quality. We created a lot of chances but sadly didn't take them. On another night hopefully they would go in.

"And if we grab an early goal over there? Sean O'Connor scored from the first free-kick I took and I expect him to cause them problems over there.

"We owe it to our fans to have a go. They stick by us no matter what.

"Our supporters turned up in numbers for the first-leg tie and nearly 1,000 are going to Denmark. We'll try not to let them down."