- Team form: Queen of the South are unbeaten in their last five League One games (W1, D4).
- Away form: Montrose have lost their last three games and have won only one of their previous five in League One.
- Head-to-head: Montrose have failed to win their last two trips to Queen of the South.
Home comforts could help Doonhamers to vital win
Queen of the South’s solid home form should be enough to take all three points when they host an out-of-form Montrose side in League One on Saturday.
The Doonhamers are fourth in the table on 50 points from 34 games, nine ahead of 6th-placed Montrose on 41 points from 34 matches. Queen of the South have won eight, drawn five and lost four of their 17 home games in League One 2025/2026, while Montrose have won only three of their 17 away matches.
Peter Murphy’s team have been very steady, if unspectacular, since he took over in May 2024 and built a tight, risk-averse unit that has been hard to beat. Queen of the South have won only once in their last five, but have also gone unbeaten in that sequence and will be a tough opponent for Montrose on Saturday.
Murphy’s side like to play with numbers and structure in the midfield, so a lot depends on the performance of the pivot, usually Harry Cochrane, who provides the composure and control for the rest of the team to operate around. Queen of the South’s build-up is typically patient and they will try to manage the game, although their structure of 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1 can be vulnerable to the counter attack.
Goals likely with styles opposing at Palmerston Park
Montrose approach
Montrose is an attacking team by nature and long-serving boss Stewart Petrie does not mess with a formula.
The visitors typically play in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system and like to get the ball wide and get forwards down the flanks. Montrose are a direct, physical side who can be dangerous on the counter. Blair Lyons has provided some spark for them up front, scoring three of their goals in the last five, although they have lost three straight games.
Head-to-head and key players
The Doonhamers have the edge in the head-to-head record, having won three of the last five meetings between these two clubs, with Montrose having taken two and no draws in the sequence. Montrose also won the reverse fixture 3-2 at home eight weeks ago, but come into this one on a much worse run of form.
- Reece Lyon is the key man for Queen of the South.
- He leads the charts for the club with nine League One 2025/2026 goals, of which three have come in the last five games.
- Callum Sandilands is Montrose’s most prolific player with 10 goals in 2025/2026.
Hosts have edge in an end-to-end contest
The hosts should win this match based on recent form and the fact that Montrose have taken only one point on their two most recent away trips, but there’s a better chance of making some money on the goals markets.
Montrose have scored an average of 1.24 goals per game on their travels, hitting 21 times on the road in 2025/2026, while Queen of the South average 1.71 goals per home game, having struck 29 at Palmerston Park in this campaign.
Backing Over 2.5 goals looks a solid bet for this clash of styles with each side boasting attacking threats and a need to come out on top. It will be a lively match with goals likely at both ends, although the home team’s recent record suggests they can eventually edge out the visitors.
The odds are good on Over 2.5 goals at 1.46, while Both Teams to Score - Yes is also available at 1.66. Queen of the South are just 1.37 to win, but are right behind this game with a double celebration of their final home game and awards night on the same night.
