First goal crucial for Rangers against counter attack kings Queens

I will be commentating on the game at Palmerston Park for BT Sport - we will be showing all six games live - and don't expect Queens to be pushovers. They have a real chance to go up.

I have seen Queens in action three times this season. I watched them beat Rangers twice at Palmerston and lose to Hearts at Tynecastle after giving their hosts a difficult game.

The last time Queens were in the top division in Scottish football was way back in the 1960s. But they aren't in the play-offs by luck. They do things their own way and it works.

A lot has been made of the difficulty of playing them on their artificial pitch down in Dumfries. It has been claimed the synthetic surface gives them an unfair edge.

I'm not sure it makes much difference. It is one of the best pitches of its kind in Scotland.

Having said that, I do think they know how to play on it and how to play to their strengths on it.

They have had their tactics spot-on in their two meetings with Rangers at home.

Their performances were a tribute to their manager James Fowler - one of only two full-time coaching staff the Doonhamers have. Only their physio is a paid employee.

I think the first goal will be vital. If Queens bag it, then Rangers will have to come at them and try and equalise.

But that will play into the home team's strengths. Their tactical approach is to sit back, soak up pressure and hit their team on the counter when they are stretched.

That was obvious when the teams met last month. Queens were content to give their opponents possession on the halfway line. They know they can punish them to devastating effect.

When you look at the Queens squad, you can see there is a healthy smattering of local lads in there. I think that is important to them.

Their striker, Gavin Reilly, who scored in the 2-0 win over Rangers in December and was named Man of the Match in the 3-0 win over the Ibrox club last month, is from Dumfries.

Fowler has a classic blend of youth and experience, too. Reilly, Kevin Holt and Ian McShane are both just 22. Danny Carmichael is 24. Andy Dowie, Chris Higgins, Derek Lyle and Iain Russell, meanwhile, have been about a bit.

Rangers have, to be frank, been clueless in their games against Queens away. I think the tactics Stuart McCall chooses will be very important.

He may set up with three at the back, as he did very well against Hibs at Easter Road, instead of his usual four and play three centre-backs.

Both Hibs and Rangers have looked fragile at times. When they fall a goal behind they have struggled to claw their way back into games.

That is why I think it is vital Rangers score the first goal this evening if they want to progress to the semi-finals.

But the quarter-final will be played over two legs and will be decided over 180 minutes. They can't afford to lose heavily and so could err on the side of caution.

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