Edinburgh City boss pinpoints loss of Marc Laird as decisive in defeat by Queen's Park

Edinburgh City boss James McDonaugh believes the loss of Marc Laird to a hip injury was a key factor in his side’s surprising 2-1 home defeat by Queen’s Park.

The loss, just the Citizens’ fourth in Ladbrokes League Two this season, also saw the club spurn the opportunity to assume top spot after leaders Cove Rangers’ trip to Stirling Albion was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

It was all going to plan at Ainslie Park when Craig Thomson’s free-kick was headed home by defender Liam Henderson in the 17th minute. However, that was as good as it got for the Capital men.

Influential midfielder Laird, who last week penned a new deal that will keep him at the club until next summer, was forced off three minutes into the second half.

And Ray McKinnon’s Spiders took full advantage just minutes later as a run deep into the City half by David Galt went unchallenged and he picked out an unmarked William Mortimer to head in from just a couple of yards.

The game was turned on its head four minutes later. Galt was again the provider, this time an exquisite pass with the outside of his left boot sent Salim Kouider-Aissa through on goal and the striker sent his shot beyond goalkeeper Alan Martin.

City lacked a cutting edge in the final third thereafter, although Thomson’s corner deep into stoppage time caused mayhem in the visitors’ defence with the ball twice cleared off the line as the hosts went in search of a last-gasp equaliser.

McDonaugh was desperately disappointed in his team’s performance and was critical of the goals conceded.

“Marc Laird is a big player for us and after he’s gone off the game has completely turned,” the former Falkirk assistant boss said. “The fact is we were winning 1-0 and after he goes off we end up losing. Perhaps it’s a coincidence but who knows?

“It’s a massive blow to lose. I thought we were in good control of the game in the first half but we were poor after the break. I don’t think we did anything right in the second half.

“We didn’t defend well enough, we didn’t build the play, didn’t pass or create anything around their goal so it was really poor. Their two goals were terrible defending from our point of view. We let the ball come out of the box and we didn’t track our runners for the first one. The second we didn’t press high enough up the pitch.

“That said, maybe you should ask the referee about his performance. Their winner was clearly offside but it was a good pass. It was a bit uncharacteristic in terms of how we defended but it’s clear in my mind who was to blame for the goals. I told the players they should be disappointed in themselves and they were gutted. So, we now need to see what they’re made of.

“You can’t legislate for that second-half performance. I’m struggling to find anything positive. If you defend like that then you’re going to lose. We were desperate to win the game.”

Edinburgh City: Martin, Thomson, Balatoni, Laird (Stewart 48), Brown (Crane 60), Handling, Wilson, Shepherd, L Henderson, Court, Harris (Newman 80). Subs: Beveridge, Kane, Hall, Shaw.

Queen’s Park: Muir, Mortimer, Summers, Finnie, Jamieson (Main 44), Little, Lidouren, Foy, Kouider-Aissa, Galt, Moore (Agyeman 90). Subs: Clark, Gibson, Purdue, Grant, Heraghty.

Referee: Graham Grainger.

Attendance: 442.