Having won plaudits for their performance against Rangers at Ibrox in midweek, Queens were this afternoon punished for a lacklustre performance as they went down 2 – 0 at home to Dunfermline.

With Paul McKay suspended following his sending off at Falkirk and Stuart Morrison still side-lined through injury. Manager Wullie Gibson stuck with the same starting eleven from Tuesday night. But it was another slow start for the Palmerston side and Max Currie was the busier keeper in the opening minutes.

Queens kept the visitors at bay until the 19th minute when they fell behind to a scrappy goal. As the cross came in from the right former Queens frontman Nikolay Todorov got on the end of it at the back post, Currie scrambled to clear it but referee Stewart Luke, judged it had crossed the line before the keeper cleared and awarded the goal.

James McPake`s side were well on top and three minutes later Euan East headed clear from Josh Edwards before Kyle MacDonald hit a curling shot wide.

Queens had yet to test Deniz Mehmet and their first real chance of the game came midway through the first half when Stephen Hendrie made a good run down the left, but his effort flashed across the face of goal and out for a goal-kick.

With just over half an hour played, The Pars almost extended their lead, but MacDonald was denied by the base of the upright and Currie did well to block the rebound from Kevin O`Hara.

It was proving a struggle for Queens as they failed to get a grip on the game, and in the closing stages of the first half, some slack passing opened up another chance for O`Hara, but Currie again did well to block, and East was on hand to clear the second effort from Todorov.

O`Hara was again though on goal, but this time be played the ball straight into the arms of Currie and in added on time before the break. Dunfermline were awarded a free kick on the right, as the ball was floated in, it was another former Queens player, Rhys Breen who was on the line to force the ball over the line. The far side assistant raised his flag for offside but after a discussion the man in the middle overruled his decision and controversially gave the goal.

HALF TIME: Queens 0 Dunfermline 2

With a mountain to climb again, Queens changed things around at half time and introduced Rico Quitongo for Harry Cochrane. It was a better spell for the Doonhamers and as Ruari Paton headed towards goal he found himself sandwiched between two defenders and his chance blocked.

Seven minutes into the second half, Queens were handed a lifeline when Gavin Reilly was upended inside the box. However, Mehmet guessed correctly and dived to his right to save Paton`s spot kick.

It was another blow for the home side and although they were getting forward more than they did in the first half, chances were still limited. And with Dunfermline still looking a danger, Aaron Comrie delivered the ball into the box, but Todorov headed over.

In a bid to get into the game Queens made further changes but it didn`t have the impact that they needed. The Gaffer who had come on did cross for fellow substitute Michael Ruth, but his header was punched over the bar by Mehmet.

And five minutes from time, Connor Murray tried a long range shot but it was too high and flew over the bar.

FULL TIME: Queens 0 Dunfermline 2