There were three changes to the team today for the long trek to Palmerston Park to take on Queen of the South from the side that lost 2-1 to Partick Thistle last Saturday.  Full backs Ross Tokely and Stuart Golabek dropped out with hand and hamstring injuries respectively while Dani Sanchez dropped to the bench.  This meant starts for Lionel Djebi-Zadi, his first since the end of September, Lee Cox and Eric Odhiambo.  Dougie Imrie returned from suspension to take a place on the bench while there was also a place for midfielder Roy McBain amongst the substitutes.

Queen of the South tested Ryan Esson on a few occasions early on and David Weatherston missed a good opportunity to get a shot on goal when a Willie MacLaren pass set him up but just as he was about to pull the trigger Lionel Djebi-Zadi did well to get in a block.

On the 18th minute we took the lead when November's Irn-Bru player of the month Jonny Hayes cut in from right hand side past left back Robert Harris and fired through a ruck off players past goalkeeper David Hutton to make it 1-0.

Shortly afterwards we came close to number two and again Jonny Hayes was involved when his fine cross from the right found Eric Odhiambo but headed inches over Hutton's bar.

Referee Alan Muir dished out yellow cards to Eric Odhiambo and Richie Foran while for the home side Paul Burns, Rocco Quinn, Marc McAusland and Stephen McKenna also picked up bookings.

Manager Terry Butcher was then sent to the stand by referee Alan Muir after he protested that Adam Rooney had been fouled when he was clean through on goal but the officials never agreed.  Shortly afterwards Richie Foran was shown a red card after picking up a second yellow for a foul on Barry Wilson.

Straight from the resulting free kick Queen of the South were level on 75 minutes when Robert Harris fired directly into the net.

There was a melee in the penalty area after Queens scored and after consulting both of his assistants Alan Muir then showed red cards to Russell Duncan and Queen of the South captain David Lilley to make it 10 v 9 on the pitch.

It was all action and from the re-start we missed a good chance to take the lead again when Jonny Hayes hit his shot over the bar with the goalkeeper rushing out of his goal.  However neither side could find a winner in the remaining time.

Full-time score: Queen of the South 1 (Harris 75 mins)  - ICT 1 (Hayes 18 mins)

ICT Team

Esson

Proctor, Bulvitis, Munro, Djebi-Zadi

Cox, Duncan

Hayes, Odhiambo, Foran

Rooney

Subs: Allison (GK), Sanchez for Odhiambo (71 mins), Imrie for Hayes (82 mins), McBain for Sanchez (80 mins), Eagle