Stewart Petrie hails second-half Montrose response

It was a game of two halves at Links Park, with Petrie admitting the Spiders, who led at the break through a Louis Longridge effort on 26 minutes, were the better of the two in the opening 45.

But Montrose were much improved after the interval and the Mo boss was delighted with how his side responded.

Graham Webster’s penalty on 49 minutes ensured the points were shared and Petrie reckons that was fair enough.

“I thought if anyone was going to win it may have been us but the last 15 minutes were a bit end-to-end,” said the manager.

"They were better in the first half and I thought we were better in the second, so we’re happy enough with a point.

"If you’re going to sit off teams, they can play and pass around you.

"We got about them a bit more in the second half and got up against them.

"We went man-for-man and it certainly worked for the first 25 minutes, half an hour, and then we changed back towards the end because the guys were out on their feet a little bit because they had put a massive effort in to get back into the game.

"For that first 25 minutes of the second half we were excellent, there was a great attitude and spirit about us.

"We were streched a bit for numbers but that's why we have our squad.

"The guys could have felt a bit sorry for themselves after going behind but they never, just like at Dumbarton. They battled away and deserved their point.”

Attention quickly turned from the Queen’s game, which helped Montrose reinforce their place in second position in League One, to Wednesday night’s match at home to Peterhead.

That fixture was due to be played as we went to press.

Mo then make the journey into the kingdom to face Stevie Crawford’s East Fife at Bayview on January 2, a game which is subject to the recent guidance on spectators.

On the increased Covid-19 threat, Petrie added: "We’re all worried about the impact it’s going to have on the country, football is secondary to everything else. We’ll just do what we’re told and if that’s playing football and it’s safe, then great.”

Petrie was speaking to www.montrosefc.co.uk