Queen of the South can push for top four again says James Fowler

Going five matches without a victory could be enough to knock the confidence of a manager, but not Queen of the South boss James Fowler.

Two sloppy defensive mistakes cost the Doonhammers all three points at Morton last Saturday, though it was a step in the right direction for the Dumfries side.

The man in charge at Palmerston Park suggests it will only be a matter of time before they are adding to their three wins already racked up in the Ladbrokes Championship this season:

“I felt we didn’t get the run of play against Raith and Morton. If we can cut out the mistakes and look to address the small margins that are costing us defensively then we’ve definitely got enough in the squad to win games,” he told Ladbrokes News.

“If we can perform in the same manner we have done in the last couple of weeks then the wins will come.”

Fowler guided his side to the promotion play-offs last term in his first season in charge at the club, and is targeting the top four once again.

“The league’s probably tougher than it was last year, but I’m happy with the group of players we’ve got here. I don’t think there’s a lot between the teams and our ambition is to get into the top four again.”

Sitting in sixth place in the table, two points short of the top quartet may suggest that a repeat performance requires more, but the former Kilmarnock man is keen to point out that patience may be required.

“We managed to compete last season, and with new players coming in it can take a bit of time to decide on that magic XI to get those results,” he suggested.

The next test for Fowler’s team is a trip to take on Falkirk in front of the BBC Alba cameras.

What effect the Bairns’ midweek 7-0 battering at the hands of Ross County remains a conundrum for the Queens boss. Nevertheless that doesn’t mean the visitors will be approaching the game any differently.

“It’s a difficult one because if they had won the game against Ross County then they would be confident, but now having lost it the way they did they will be determined to go and make sure they work hard and put it right.

“We’ll expect a tough game, their previous results don’t matter. But what is important is that we as a group do our best and if we do that I think we’ve got enough to trouble Falkirk and get the three points.

“They are a team that have started well in the league themselves this season so we all know that the game is going to be tough, but we will obviously be looking for the win to stay within touching distance of them in the table,” he concluded.

Queen of the South are 3/1 for the victory that would put them in third, just a point behind Friday night’s opponents and give their promotion chase one almighty push.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £50 in free bets.