Wullie Gibson was “happier” with his side’s performance in a hard-fought goalless draw away at Montrose.
The point came on the back of a heavy and disappointing home defeat to Clyde on the opening day and the manager was pleased they’d tightened up at the back.
He said: “There were pleasing points, one being that we were harder to break down ourselves. We talk about other teams being hard to break down so that’s a big thing. At times I just feel we are too soft, too easy to open up but I felt that we did the basics a lot better. It was just the final quality that let us down.”
After losing four goals last week, keeping a clean sheet was a decent outcome for the gaffer.
The boss praised his side, in particular goalkeeper Max Currie who saved a first-half penalty to keep Queens in the game.
He said: “You’ve got to take the positives where they are and a clean sheet on the road is a positive.
“Three points would’ve been great, that is what we were looking for but to come here and not concede and go down the road with a point is something to build on.
“I’m proud of the players. We did make changes but on the back of such a bad performance last week, a few of them showed good character to react the way they did.
“We were more solid at the back. It wasn’t a complete performance and there are still aspects to get better but it’s something to build on.”
Gibson added: “When you look at the result last week a lot of it goes on the back line and the goalkeeper but it’s not like that, it was the whole team that didn’t perform.
“Montrose are hard to break down. That (penalty) might have been the goal that decided it. Thankfully Max kept it out and the boys owe him one.”
Gibson was happier but knows his side have gears to go up this season.
He said: “I’m happier yes but I’ve said to the boys it wouldn’t take too much to be happier as last week wasn’t acceptable.
“I don’t think there was a lot of quality but I felt that there wasn’t an awful lot of belief.
“I see the boys taking it under pressure every day of the week in training but that was missing today.
“Maybe that was a reflection on the performance and game last week, so we will keep building up as we go and start getting the best out of the players again.
“We will take confidence and use it as a building block and see where it takes us.”
Penalty hero Currie added: “To be fair it was me who gave the penalty away, so I had to make it up again. Luckily, I did that. I know Graham Webster from playing against him before, so I know where his penalties go and his favoured side. Clean sheets and wins are what wins you the league, so for me it’s a good point and something to build on”.
