THE WORST YET -JIM

Shire coach Jim McInally had admitted he finds it impossible to explain his team's performance in the 3-0 defeat at the hands of Queen's Park at Ochilview.

His plans for the game were ravaged by an illness which left two key players in bed while three others got out of their sickbeds to play. Two of them only lasted until half-time and had to be replaced.

Shire were left without first-choice keeper Jamie Barclay who was with the Scotland under-21 squad and there were suspensions to deal with as well.

But Jim was in no mood for excuses.

"None of that is any excuse for the way we played in the first half," said Jim. "We had three players out there who maybe should not have played, but what about the other eight ?

"I  cannot remember being involved in such a bad performance in all my years in football, especially in the first half."

But he was quick to praise opponents Queen's Park, led by former Shire midfielder Gardner Spiers.

"They were hungrier than us, they were quicker to every ball and they outplayed us right from the start."

The coach refused to single out individuals for blame, however.

"We win as a team and we lose as a team," he said. "We now have a match on Saturday to concentrate on. We will meet up again on Thursday and re-group and have a body count to see just how many are available to us.

"I am the man that picks the team and, ultimately, I  have to carry the can for that. I  have been patient with some who I  hoped would play themselves back into form, butI  am now contemplating changes."

Jim went out of his way to praise the club's fans.

"They were still trying to encourage the players right to the end. Hopefully we will give them something worth cheering soon."