O'Connor goal proves in vain as Doonhamers suffer Euro defeat

It's there: Sean O'Connor scores for Queen of the South

The Danish Superliga's bottom side, who qualified for the tournament through the fair play league, passed up more first-half chances as Queens struggled to settle.

The Scottish Cup runners-up improved after the interval but the damage had been
done and the visitors, managed by former Celtic midfielder Morten Wieghorst, are
clear favourites to progress.

The game had been in serious doubt until 45 minutes before kick-off as the Dumfries club no doubt questioned their decision to move the game from Palmerston to take advantage of the Excelsior Stadium's greater number of seats.

Two days of torrential rain had caused flooding in the Lanarkshire town and a fire crew was pumping around a foot of water from a road outside the ground when Hungarian referee Mihaly Fabian finally gave the game the go-ahead.

The wet surface played a huge influence as Queens conceded before some of their
fans had completed the 73-mile trip. Skipper Thomson slipped on his backside as
he tried to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick and inadvertently knocked it behind.

Bernier delivered the corner just past the near post and Kibebe cushioned a volley high into the net.

No way through: Craig Reid tackles Morten Karlsen

Steve Tosh prevented matters getting even worse when he slid in to stop Morten
Karlsen shooting after former Rangers striker Bajam Fetai had cut the ball back
from the byline.

It took 15 minutes for the home fans to recover from the shock as Paul Burns lifted their spirits with a mazy run into the box, but he and Stewart Kean got in each other's way.

Queens were struggling and Stephan Petersen passed up two chances to increase
the advantage.

The winger struck the bar after Soren Christiansen's diagonal pass cut open the
retreating Queens defence, and then saw his shot stopped on the line by Jamie
McQuilken after the left-back allowed Martin Bernberg's through ball to slide under his foot.

Queens levelled from their first chance when O'Connor guided a powerful header
just underneath the bar from McQuilken's left-wing free-kick.

But the goal failed to settle them down and more slack defending cost them.

Left-back Simon Richter passed the ball inside the box for Bernier to escape the attention of three Queen of the South players and slide the ball underneath Halliwell.

Reid it and weep: Craig Reid holds off FC Nordsjaelland's Bajam Fetai

O'Connor's header bounced just wide following McQuilken's free-kick from the opposite flank and the visitors' weakness in the air was apparent when Thomson
headed a yard over from the penalty spot following Craig Reid's corner.

Chisholm brought on Stephen Dobbie for Gary Arbuckle, and Queens took just two
minutes of the second half to produce their best move of the night so far.

Burns crossed from the left and Kean chested the ball and volleyed down and into the hands of the diving Jesper Hansen. Moments later O'Connor was a fraction away from heading Dobbie's driven cross.

The hosts were looking more purposeful in possession and Dobbie's low cross was
turned behind by Hansen at his near post.

They were caught on the break when a long ball put Fetai in the clear, but Halliwell saved his low shot after Reid raced back to put him under pressure.

The hosts continued to push forward and Craig Barr was unfortunate to see his
header deflected wide by a team-mate following Tosh's corner.

Tosh's 25-yard strike dipped just over the bar and Burns set up Dobbie but his volley on the run lacked power.

Nordsjaelland still posed a threat and Fetai almost carved out a third with two inswinging free-kicks that drifted just wide.

And although Queen of the South drove forward in the latter stages, they failed
to carve out the clear chances their second-half effort merited.