GUS MacPHERSON insists Queen's Park won't get ahead of themselves this season despite moving to within touching distance of top spot in League Two.

The Spiders have found their form in recent weeks to climb the standings and are now just two points adrift of title favourites Arbroath.

Third-placed Albion Rovers are next on the QP agenda this weekend while the Red Lichties are at home to Clyde looking to recover from back-to-back defeats.

MacPherson collected the Manager of the Month award last week as a reward for Queen's stunning form but the Hampden gaffer isn't looking too far ahead. He said: "We have to remember that we are only 12 league games into the season and it is still very early.

"We are delighted with the way things have gone. The players have reacted to everything that has been asked of them.

"We would hope to try and keep this run going and see where that takes us.

"Arbroath had a fantastic start to the season and they would have been looking at the last couple of games as key for them.

"But it just shows you how quickly - especially at this level of football - things can change.

"We are delighted that we are competitive this year. People will say that we are just trying to play things down but we are just realistic in terms of what are trying to do with this group."

After finding themselves at the wrong end of the table last season, Queen's have been transformed under MacPherson this time around.

The former St Mirren and Queen of the South boss overhauled his squad during the summer and is pleased to see their endeavours paying off on the pitch.

MacPherson said: "Only people associated with Queen's Park would realise the size of job that we have done and the turnaround.

"There has been a big change in terms of the playing staff but there has been a lot of work behind the scenes.

"I got the award last month and I am the figurehead but it is about all the staff here.

"You receive the reward gratefully and you appreciate it but I know the work that the whole team has done.

"We have stressed to the players, not just in the last week or two, that they are on a run and playing the way they are because of their work ethic.

"We as a staff are working extremely hard and we expect the players to do that as well, which they are."

QP head into the Albion clash a point ahead of Darren Young's side in the fourth tier standings looking to gain revenge for their Scottish Cup reverse to Rovers earlier this month.

And MacPherson is wary of the threat the Coatbridge attack will pose in a crucial top of the table clash.

He said: "I would say that, in my opinion, they have got the best striker in the league in John Gemmell.

"He missed a few weeks through injury but he is back in the team and scoring goals.

"It is not just about his goals. We looked at him when we were at St Mirren to see if he could strengthen our group.

"I think he has still got a lot to offer with the type of player that he is."