Queen of the South were held at home to a 2-2 draw against Livingston at a drenched Palmerston Park, a result which sees them drop to 8th in the Championship.
After a bright start from the home side it was Livingston who took an early lead as Marc McNulty finished a neat passing move after just 3 minutes before Queens equalised through Michael Paton`s curling free-kick on 16 minutes. The Doonhamers dominated the remainder of the half and the pressure told after 45 minutes as Mark Durnan powered a header past Jamieson in the Livi goal. Queens were unable to continue the momentum gathered in the first half, however, and were pegged back by an unstoppable strike from McNulty as he rattled the ball into the top corner to secure his side a point.
Queens manager Jim McIntyre said: “I think you`re always disappointed when you are 2-1 ahead and a team scores a late goal. I thought we were the better side in the first half, I thought we started well and Livingston scored against the run of play. Then for 10 minutes that knocked us right out of our stride and they looked the more likely but credit to the players. It showed great character halfway through the half when we got back into it and took the lead on half-time.
“We spoke about the importance of keeping a clean sheet and defending properly. We never did that for their second goal, it was too easy although it was a fabulous hit from the boy but we`re disappointed with how he got into that position. He`s just waltzed in there and that was the disappointing thing from us. But it`s another important point in a tough league.
“It was a fantastic free-kick from Michael Paton. Chris Mitchell was thinking of hitting it but we were shouting on to get Pates on it and he`s delivered. A great free-kick and good to have him back fit.”
After missing the last couple of weeks with a back injury Michael Paton returned to the starting line up with a bang as he scored a classy free-kick from 25 yards.
Paton said: “Mitch was going to take it but the manager shouted on and said `have a crack yourself` so I took it, closed my eyes and it went in!
“I thought we were the better team for most of the game, they had periods where they were dominating as well but we should have won that one. Even at the end there Iain Russell`s got the chance to nick it 3-2 so it`s disappointing but there’s a positive in that we got a point out of it.”