Queen of the South boss claims Montrose game plan unravelled due to player's late arrival

Queens manager Marvin Bartley disclosed how the Doonhamers’ game plan began to unravel before kick-off when a player arrived late in Dumfries.

The South slumped to a 3-2 defeat at home to Montrose in their League One clash at the weekend to end a promising three game winning streak.

But Bartley was fuming at the late arrival of a mystery player and carpeted him. He said: “It started badly because we had to change the team lines because someone can’t arrive at the club on time. It has a knock-on effect. That has been dealt with but it doesn’t help.”

Queens quickly found themselves two goals behind in a dreadful first period and Bartley blasted them before making three substitutions at the break hauled them back into the game at 2-2.

He revealed: “Frustrating is putting it lightly. To concede two goals in the first 15 minutes is just ridiculous and it’s not for the first time this season.

“It was the same against Alloa.

“So, yes it was a highly frustrating first half. Some of the things we were doing even outwith the goals wasn’t what we do, and it will be a sharp lesson for some players.

“You can be fantastic when we are structured and do what we are supposed to do and we’re on the same wavelength, but performance dips dramatically if you go out there and think you can do what you want.

“We had to change the shape. It’s not just down to the three. If I had more subs than just five, I would probably have made more at half-time. So, it’s a message to everyone that it won’t be accepted, and we have players that can come on and impact things.

“As I’ve said, the first half performance, aside from the bad goals, is so frustrating because we work so hard during the week on a pattern and style so that everyone