IN THE end events at Palmerston yesterday were rendered insignificant but Dundee's hurt at missing out on promotion was heightened by the fact they produced an inept performance in losing to Queen of the South.
To focus on Dundee's deficiencies is to do a disservice to Queens, who were the better team by a long distance, but at the home of the only club named in the Bible, it was here the Dark Blues had prayed for the miracle they needed to reinvigorate the
ir title dream. It did not come.
As Hamilton ruthlessly dispatched Clyde to claim the trophy, Dundee were outfought by Queens and saw their title aspirations officially snuffed out when Brian Gilmour struck to sweep the ball in on 43 minutes.
Explaining his side's insipid showing, Alex Rae, their manager, believes the significance of the afternoon spooked some of his players. "We were second best throughout and the occasion was maybe too much for a lot of them," he said. "It was as bad as we've played all season.
They've done really well this season but to go out in that manner is hard to take."
Queens played with confidence and style befitting their status as Cup finalists. Sean O'Connor had an early goal controversially erased for a foul on Eddie Malone before Scott Robertson, John Stewart, Stephen Dobbie and Craig Reid all went close in the second half.
One goal proved enough and it is Queens, not Dundee, who now stand closest to silverware this season.
The full article contains 257 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
