Go for the jugular!

QUEEN of the South gaffer Peter Murphy says his team plan to get right in about Montrose from the off on Saturday.

The Palmerston chief admitted his injury-hit side let themselves down at times during their 2-1 home loss to Alloa Athletic last time out.

Queens had a host of chances but couldn’t convert and were stung by the deadly Wasps.

The Doonhamers failed to close the gap on the top two but Murphy wants a reaction up at Links Park this weekend.

He said: “We let ourselves down against Alloa. We need to make sure we bounce back and improve on how we started the Alloa match.

“I believe we have really good players and sometimes in games where they feel they should be running away with it but we don’t, they take it easier.

“I feel they passed it sideways and backwards against Alloa rather than going for the opposition’s throat. Next week at Montrose we plan to go for them.”

Murphy has admitted the current injury crisis at the club is the worst he’s experienced throughout his time in football.

He added: “When you are coming to training and you don’t have six or seven players available to train, it makes it difficult.

“The players are taking that rest time during the week because they want to be ready for Saturdays.

“There’s no point in flogging players and making them train if they are sore, stiff and carrying injuries.

“We need them for every game, I’d rather have every player available on a Saturday than make them train every day because Saturday is where it matters. The players are desperate to fight for the club.”

Midfielder Benji Luissint was subbed off at half time after suffering a head knock in the first minute. But he was okay to continue until he was unable to see properly due to a swollen black eye. Defender Mikey Hewitt also had to be withdrawn with a tight hamstring.

Some Queens fans were left puzzled after Murphy elected not to bring on forward Jordan Allan – who has returned from a long-lasting knee injury – despite being in need of a goal.

Murphy explained his decision: “Jordan managed to play 75 minutes during the week for the under 19s but when he came to train with us his legs were sore and even coming to Friday he said he was still stiff.

“So as a matter of trying to make sure we have a player available for a longer period rather than just chucking him in because we were desperate for a goal, that’s a gamble I have to take.

“Jordan has come back from a longer injury and we’ve got to look after him to make sure he’s right.”

Murphy also hopes that injury-stuck loan signing Menzi Mazwi could return to the club in the future after suffering ligament damage in his knee. He is expected to be out for six-to-eight weeks.

And the Palmy gaffer revealed he had to drive Mazwi to the hospital after the Cove game two weeks ago.

He added: “I’ve never had to do that before as a manager or as a player.

“I had driven up whilst the players were on the minibus so it was no problem for me because he was in a hell of a lot of pain. He was on the gas and air, we were worried.

“We managed to get him checked out, luckily there were no breaks. His knee was intact, it looks like it’s ligament.

“Driving back down the road, Menzi was actually apologising for getting injured. I told him it’s not his fault and he shouldn’t be apologising.

“He’s back down at Birmingham. I’d like to think he’ll pull on a Queens shirt again, but that depends on how he recovers. He’s never had an injury before so that’s why I think there was the panic and fear in the first place.”