QoS 0-1 Falkirk as it happened

1. Scottish Cup quarter-final
2. Craig Sibbald gives Falkirk victory
3. Bairns first side into the semi-finals
4. Falkirk beat Queens for first time this term

Thanks for your company tonight and please join us again tomorrow for the second of the Scottish Cup quarter-finals as Inverness Caledonian Thistle host Raith Rovers. Having beaten Rangers in the last round, can Rovers cause another upset by beating the Premiership outfit to make it two Championship side's in the final four?

Having knocked out the holders, St Johnstone, in the previous round, Queens have exited themselves as Falkirk made it four Scottish Cup visits to Palmerston through the years without a defeat.

BBC Two Scotland pundits Alan Stubbs and Pat Bonner agreed that Falkirk deserved their victory and that Queens did not do enough after the break to warrant a draw.

FULL-TIME

More joy for Falkirk as the final whistle blows and they are the first side into the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

We hear that Falkirk midfielder Luke Leahy is sitting up after his head knock, which is good news.

Time is running out for Queen of the South.

YELLOW CARD

Queens' Lewis Kidd is booked for a late challenge as Craig Sibbald looks to break.

Man of the match and goalscorer Craig Sibbald does a bit of timewasting juggling similar to Charlton Athletic's Tony Watt in midweek - a video that went viral.

We have seven minutes of stoppage time to play and all the action is down at the Falkirk end at the moment. The Bairns are holding on by their fingertips.

PENALTY APPEAL

Queens fans cry out for a penalty as a shot is blocked as the ball bobbles about inside a crowded Falkirk penalty box.

Former Partick Thistle defender Aaron Muirhead replaces Luke Leahy, who is being taken out of the field of play on a stretcher.

OUCH

There is concern for Falkirk midfielder Luke Leahy as he looks out for the count after his head connects with team-mate Peter Grant's boot as they both try to clear.

Falkirk are immediately forced into another change, with Rory Loy taking a rap on the ankle and being replaced with Taylor Morgan, the striker on loan from Norwegian club Ostersunds and with previous experience with Chicago Fire and Toronto.

Falkirk squander a good chance on the break as Blair Alston fails to find Rory Loy in the box and that is the midfielder's last bit of action as he is replaced with defender Liam Dick as manager Peter Houston looks to protect their lead.

Aidan Smith, a 17-year-old striker, is given a chance to be an instant hero on his Queens debut as he replaces top scorer Gavin Reilly. A lot to expect from the young lad.

Former Falkirk defender Chris Mitchell, who spent time at Bradford City, replaces the injured Mark Durnan as Queens are forced into another change.

Substitute Danny Carmichael displays some wing wizardry before firing a cross that is headed clear but only into the path of Queens' Iain Russell. However, the striker drills the ball into the ground and the sting is taken out of it as it spins into the arms of goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald.

The action is swinging swiftly from one end to the other as two equally matches sides slug it out for a coveted semi-final spot. Most efforts have been blocked or placed off target, but this time Falkirk's Blair Alston finds the target but straight into the arms of goalkeeper Zander Clark.

BBC Two Scotland pundit Craig Paterson

"The game is opening up nicely with Queens having to go for it."

Queens are forced into a change in midfield, with Paul Burns going off injured and Danny Carmichael coming on.

It's Gavin Reilly's turn to squander a chance for Queens as he rises to meet a driven cross, but the striker's header is flies several yards over from 14 yards.

Iain Russell kicks fresh air as he takes a wild swipe at the ball after it falls kindly for the Queens striker 12 yards from goal following a corner. Things are heating up in Dumfries.

Just as I was bemoaning the lack of excitement, Falkirk miss a chance to extend their lead as Peter Grant bulldozes past a couple of defenders to power a header towards goal following a corner - but can't direct it on target.

BBC Two Scotland pundit Craig Paterson has just suggested that the occasion and the prospect of a place in the Scottish Cup semi-finals is getting to the players. The tedium is getting to the rest of us.

Queens are using the wind well and enjoying the territorial advantage, but so far they have not created any chances after the break and have just wasted another corner.

Queens, of course, knocked holders St Johnstone out of the competition 2-0 at Palmerston in the previous round. Falkirk had an easier passage, beating League One outfit Brechin City 2-1.

BBC Two Scotland pundit Craig Paterson

"Manager James Fowler will have told his side they now have the wind, so push Falkirk back and get as many balls flying into the box as they can."

KICK-OFF

Queens kick off the second half looking to come from behind if they are to beat Falkirk in the Scottish Cup at Palmerston for the first time in four meetings.

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Tony Stewart: "Girlfriend likes the team name for Queen Of The South, so I like to keep an eye on them. Come on lads!"

SNS

Midfielder Craig Sibbald (left) has now found the net six times for Falkirk this season

SNS

Craig Sibbald directed his header into the net to put Falkirk into the lead

BBC Two Scotland pundit Pat Bonner

"The goal came slightly against the balance of play. Craig Sibbald reacted quicker than the defenders and, in these conditions, it only takes a little nick to take it in. Falkirk will be delighted to be ahead because, with the wind, sometimes the ball runs away from you."

Hibernian manager Alan Stubbs on BBC Two Scotland

"Conditions are playing a huge part on the game. It is difficult to control the ball in the wind. Queen of the South will maybe feel slightly aggrieved to go in at half-time behind."

Falkirk midfielder Craig Sibbald's sixth goal of the season separates the sides at Palmerston Park. A lead that's just about deserved on the balance of play.

HALF-TIME

Suits you sir!

SNS

Falkirk manager Peter Houston tries a policeman's hat on for size after the wind threw it on to the field of play

Falkirk goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald does well to block after Queens striker Gavin Reilly gathers a through ball deep inside the penalty box and tries his luck from an acute angle.

GOAL

Falkirk make their growing dominance of possession tell as Craig Sibbald dives long to re-direct inside the far post a ball that had been volleyed powerfully into the penalty box by Luke Leahy. Definitely a case of wind assistance there.

SNS

Tom Taiwo (left) had an early chance for Falkirk and Palmerston Park

Queens are fortunate not to concede a penalty when Andy Dowie barges into the back of Rory Loy as the striker tries to gather from a throw-in.

Rory Loy, who moments earlier showed the kind of skill that had led to a pre-contract deal with Dundee, squanders a chance as he volleys over from 15 yards. The Falkirk striker have to better than that in the Premiership next season.

Falkirk manager Peter Houston risks arrest as he cheekily tries a policeman's hat on for size after a poor Bobby's bunnet flies off on to the field of play.

Finally a shot on target and, although David Smith doesn't connect properly with his low shot from 18 yards, Queens goalkeeper Zander Clark makes a meal of it but gathers at the second attempt.

Queens respond and Iain Russell weaves into the penalty box and takes it round goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald, but Dave McCracken wacks it clear when the striker plays a low ball into a crowded goalmouth.

Tom Taiwo makes space for himself on the edge of the Queens penalty box, but the former Hibs midfielder lashes wildly over. At least it was an attempt on goal - the first of any note so far.

Queens have been denied by a couple of offside flags. They are knocked on the Bairns' door.

By the way, Queen of the South have made three changes, with Paul Burns, fit-again Gavin Reilly and Iain Russell replacing the cup-tied Mark Millar, Daniel Carmichael and the suspended Derek Lyle.

Falkirk goalkeeper Jamie McDonald keeps his eye on a free-kick into the penalty box. He is doing well to stay awake never mind anything else since he was up until 2.30am while his wife was giving birth.

There's a fair breeze blowing into the face of Queens goalkeeper Zander Clark. But the action is flowing in the opposite direction at the moment.

KICK-OFF

We are off at Palmerston Park with the home side in their traditional blue shifts and the visitors in white.

Falkirk manager Peter Houston makes two changes, with David Smith and Blair Alston starting in place of the cup-tied Mark Kerr and John Baird, two players who switched from Queens.

The last Scottish Cup meeting between the sides was in January 2009, when Falkirk won 4-2 at home. Altogether, they have met four times in the competition, with the Bairns unbeaten at Palmerston, winning 2-1 in 1929 and 4-3 in 1930, the latter in a replay after a 1-1 draw. They also drew 1-1 in Dumfries in 1979, but Queens won the replay 4-0.

Falkirk last won at Palmerston Park in April, winning 2-1 on league duty.

LINE-UPS

Queen of the South: Clark, Holt, Dowie, Durnan, Higgins, Burns, Reilly, Russell, Kidd, Paton, McShane. Subs: Mitchell, McKenna, Carmichael, Atkinson, Hooper, Smith, Pickard.

Falkirk: MacDonald, Duffie, McCracken, Vaulks, Taiwo, Alston, Smith, Sibbald, Grant, Leahy, Loy. Subs: Muirhead, Biabi, Bowman, Dick, Cooper, Maybury, Morgan.

Referee: Kevin Clancy

The sides have already met three times this season in the Championship, with the sides ending 1-1 in both games at Falkirk Stadium, while Queens won 3-0 the last time the Bairns visited Palmerston in October.

Falkirk are unbeaten in their last nine outings and their last six matches on their travels.

Talking of tonight's hosts, Queens haven't won in their last two outings, but they have only suffered one defeat in their last five and that came at home to runaway Championship leaders Hearts.

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The big news in Scottish football today is that Dave King at last has hands on the crown jewels at Ibrox. The South Africa-based businessman overwhelmingly won this morning's vote at Rangers' extraordinary meeting to replace the current board with his own consortium.

Will it end the financial and boardroom turmoil at the Glasgow club, problems that have been reflected in their results on the field? Who will - and who should - be manager? A return for Ally McCoist from gardening leave? Give us your thoughts on that, tonight's game in Dumfries or anything else you want to get off your chest...

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The sides are so well matched that only goal difference separates them in the Championship table, with the Doonhamers sitting fourth and the Bairns just behind in the race for places in the promotion play-offs, so we ought to have a close encounter on our hands at Palmerston Park.

Welcome to our live text coverage of the first of this weekend's four Scottish Cup quarter-finals as Queen of the South host Scottish Championship rivals Falkirk.