Manager Gardner Speirs was pleased with the way his young side played against Rangers, despite going down to a second-half double from Lee McCulloch, and the boss believes his side were worthy of the applause they received as they exited the field following defeat.

He said: "It's very nice to be acknowledged like that. I thought to lose a second goal right at the end was a little harsh.

"We have to remember we still lost the game, but I thought we played well and worked very hard throughout.

"We had to weather the storm at the start, which we expected. It was also the same at the start of the second half as well, which we once again thought would be the case after it was 0-0 at the interval.

"What really pleased me, though, was how we reacted after we conceded the first goal. We seemed to get stronger, which was really pleasing."

Queen's could have, and really should have, equalised when Andy Robertson took too long to get his shot off after some tremendous play took him through one-on-one with Rangers goal-keeper Neil Alexander, and Speirs added: "Andy said his first touch got away from him and by the time he got his shot in this big orange jersey was bearing down on him.

"It was good experience for my players and I thought we competed well, which was very pleasing."