Queen of the South

Queen of the South are aiming to replicate the season they experienced in 2012/13, when they bounced back to the Championship at the first time of asking after relegation. The Dumfries club have spent the intervening period in the second flight, but they had been flirting with relegation in recent years, twice finishing in ninth only to survive. Last term, though, they were dead last and relegated. The margins of their relegation were fine – they only scored one goal fewer and conceded two more than Hamilton, who finished sixth and nine points better off – and it will be Willie Gibson who attempts to lead them back to the Championship as player-manager. It is his first management role. Queen’s team this season is set to be primarily built around their defence. Gibson has focused in drafting defensive players in from Championship clubs but has also pinched a couple of stronger performers from League One rivals, with Max Currie joining in goal from Airdrie and left-back Rico Quitongo signing up from Peterhead. Up front, meanwhile, Queen’s appear set to place their faith in Gavin Reilly to impress up front as he returns to the club. He already has nearly 50 goals for the Doonhamers in 139 previous appearances while he also has scored at the rate of a goal every other game for St Mirren. League One should not prove a problem for him if he gets good service, but beyond him there are some question marks over new addition Michael Ruth, who has yet to prove himself at any senior level. Queen’s League Cup campaign was promising, despite kicking off with a shock defeat against Annan. They subsequently picked up victories against Ayr and Elgin, while they beat St Johnstone on a penalty shootout. This suggests that they should be one of the strongest teams in a competitive league.