IT WAS impossible for Queen of the South's players to hide their disappointment after their 3-2 cup final loss to Rangers, yet nor was it possible for them to hide their pride at a rousing second-half showing which momentarily rocked the UEFA Cup finalists.
"The gaffer (Gordon Chisholm] didn't lose his head (at half-time]," said Queens midfielder Jamie McQuilken, "he just said that we never showed up in the first half. He was spot on, but he reminded us of how we got to the final and inspired us to play
like that in the second half."
So effectively did Queens turn it around after the break that McQuilken believes that for a brief spell the Dumfries side thought they could go on to win.
"We're so disappointed. You don't win anything by giving Rangers a two-goal lead and we don't think we'll ever get a better chance to beat Rangers. After we scored we got an extra spring in our step and they looked worried and tired. They were arguing amongst themselves and I thought 'we've got a right good chance here'. We needed to score in the first five minutes after our second goal when we were on top. But credit to Rangers, you don't get to UEFA Cup finals for nothing."
For Steve Tosh, whose goal started the fightback, the pain was even more acute than it was when he was part of the Gretna side beaten in the 2006 final. "We showed what we're capable of in the second half, and when I went into the Rangers dressing room they knew they had been in a game. But I'm still bitterly disappointed, even more devastated than I was with Gretna – I'm getting sick of picking up losers medals and I'd have much preferred us winning a crappy game 1-0."
Tosh's feelings of despair were heightened by what he saw as some dubious refereeing.
"I thought the free-kick that led to their first goal was very soft and that lots of decisions that were given against us were very easy to give. Sean O'Connor got pushed in the back in the box at the back post and it was as blatant as the nose on my face but that would have been a decision against Rangers in a cup final at the Rangers end and that's just not going to happen."
Looking to the future, Tosh at least wasn't enthused by the prospect of Queens playing in Europe. "The UEFA Cup is just a Brucie Bonus," he said.
"To be honest I hate the bloody UEFA Cup – last time I went to Derry (with Gretna] and got absolutely hospitalised. Don't talk to me about the UEFA Cup, I'd rather go to Spain for a week!"
The full article contains 472 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
