Queen of the South boss aims to kick off tough run of games with win at Greenock Morton

Allan Johnston wants to kick off a tough run of games with three points at Palmerston tomorrow.

The Doonhamers host Morton before they travel to Hamilton Accies in midweek and then hit the road once more to take on Kilmarnock.

A win would put a six-point gap between the South and Morton who sit ninth.

Johnston said: “It’s going to be a hard game, they’ll be fighting for their lives as well.

“It’s important that we pick up points and it’s a big week for us coming up. We’ve got Hamilton midweek as well so it’s a run of tough games coming up. It would be nice to start off this run with a win.”

Queens will make a late call on Lee Connelly who came off with a hamstring issue during Saturday’s loss to Ayr United.

The manager also confirmed a thigh injury for Udoka Chima will keep him out longer term.

He said: “We’re hopeful that Lee will be okay for the weekend.

“He hasn’t trained this week but hopefully by the end of the week he’ll be back. But with it being a hamstring injury we want to make sure he’s 100 per cent right. He’s the biggest doubt at the minute.

“Udoka is going to be out for a couple of months which is really unfortunate for him. It was during the warm-up at Inverness at the end of September when he felt his thigh and it’s not good news for him. He’s got to work hard to get back to fitness but it will be a longer term one.

“He’s a young lad that’s just come up and it’s not really started for him. I’m sure in the longer term he’ll be a good player for us.”

The manager also wants to cut out the mistakes which cost his side dearly last Saturday. A foul from Josh Debayo gifted the Honest Men a way back into the game.

The Palmerston gaffer also wants his side to be more ruthless up top.

He said: “We had done enough to win the game and then a moment of madness probably cost us and gives Ayr a big lift and they go on to win the game.

“It’s all about defending and the two previous games we had two clean sheets.

“We’re defending well for the vast majority of games but you can’t legislate for a rush of blood to the head. Those are the daft wee things to focus on – it’s more concentration than anything else.

“It’s about doing the right things.

“Attacking-wise I think we need to put more people in the box. But even when we’ve got bodies in the box you need to be more aggressive as well. The amount of good deliveries we’re putting in the box we’ve got to make sure when they come in we’ve got to work the keeper more.”

Kick off at Palmerston is 3pm.