Queens Team:

1 C Bell, 2 C Barr, 3 J McQuilken, 4 N MacFarlane, 5 C Sives, 6 J Thomson, 7 P Burns, 8 S Tosh, 9 S O'Connor, 10, S Dobbie, 11 M McGowan

Subs: 12 B Halliwell, 14 S Kean, 15 S Simmons, 16 T Parratt, 17 C Reid

Partick Thistle:

1 J Tuffey, 2 P Paton, 3 K McKinlay, 4 J Robertson, 5 W Kinniburgh, 6 I Maxwell, 7 S McKeown, 8 D Rowson, 9 L Buchanan, 10 S Donnelly, 11 G Harkins

Subs: 12 C Hinchcliffe, 14 S Lennon, 15 D Gray, 16 S Chaplain, 17 C Turner

There were two changes to the side that won in Dingwall last weekend as Queens sought to maintain their position on top of the First Division. Neil MacFarlane was back from illness which meant Stephen Simmons dropped back onto the bench whilst Michael McGowan's spectacular goal and industry as a sub last week won him a starting spot over Tom Parratt who also had to be satisfied with a spot on the bench. MacFarlane's return meant someone had to drop out of the squad and, perhaps surprisingly, that was David Weatherston. Ian McCall had to cope without the services of his sweeper Simon Storey, sent off last weekend but had the dangerous Liam Buchanan starting up front for the first time in months.

Neither team was able to seize any early initiative but the first chance of note appeared in 12 minutes when Thistle gave away a needless corner and Tuffey came and got absolutely nowhere near McQuilken's delivery. Craig Barr headed over the top though. Seconds later at the other end there was some confusion at a Thistle corner and Buchanan almost smuggled the ball in but it went wide and the assistant had spotted that he had used his hand anyway. A few minutes later, as Queens struggled to get themselves sorted out after a corner at the other end, Thistle broke forward and Donnelly turned inside Sives before shooting straight at Bell. On 26 minute Paton bent a superb dangerous cross into the six yard box but Stevie Tosh did brilliantly to dive in and head the ball out for a corner which was ultimately cleared easily enough. A moment or two later Craig Barr survived a big penalty shout against him for the second successive week, this time adjudged not to have hauled down Buchanan in the box.

More controversy followed as a free kick was given against McQuilken even though he appeared to get the ball cleanly and, whilst it was defended, Craig Barr was ordered off the park to get blood cleaned from his face. Shortly after he needed a clean shirt too! From the next corner play was stopped as O'Connor received a head knock but he was fine to continue after treatment. Up the other end Paul Burns wheeled to strike Queens first effort on target but it didn't trouble Tuffey and soon it was McGowan having to clear away from his own six yard box desperately.

The first booking arrived on 37 minutes, Craig Sives seeing yellow for a sliding challenge in which he again appeared to get the ball, though it could have been seen as dangerous. Clearly Mr Charleston thought so. He also thought Gary Harkins had dived in the Queens box a few minutes later though and produced a yellow card for him too. With a minute to go before the break Dobbie collected a short pass from O'Connor and swept past three opponents in his way to clipping a shot over the crossbar from the edge of the six yard box and out wide. The action wasn't finished though unfortunately. In injury time the ball found its way to McKeown out wide right and his fine ball across the six yard box was forced in at the far post by Kevin McKinlay despite the efforts of Cammy Bell to block it from point blank range. In truth it was probably just about deserved on the balance of play but it was a hammer blow to Queens.

McKinlay knocks home on the stroke of half time.

The first point of note in the second half was a booking for Jim Thomson on 50 minutes. He finally got it for a simple pull back on Buchanan but, in fairness, he had been warned before the interval and the referee made it clear it was for persistent offending. On 56 minutes Queens had a penalty appeal turned down, though it had mostly been from the crowd rather than the players. Burns appeared to be pulled back as he ran in on a McQuilken cross but Mr Charleston saw nothing untoward. Dobbie was continuing to cause problems when he got the odd chance to run at Thistle's back line with the ball and another of those saw a fortunate ricochet off a defender prevent O'Connor getting a tap in. Gordon Chisholm decided he needed to make an attacking change so Kean replaced McGowan on the hour mark. Seconds later Craig Barr completed a hat-trick of centre halves in the book when he got a yellow for dissent.

The substitution had meant a change in formation too with Barr going to full back in a 4-4-2 and Kean slotting in on the left of midfield. Soon O'Connor laid a McQuilken throw off to Dobbie and it opened up for a shot from the edge of the box but he didn't connect properly and it bounced wide of target. At the other end McKeown broke onto a clever pass but from a tight angle his didn't greatly worry Bell. Queens were soon back on the attack though and O'Connor was next with a chance but snatched at his volley and sent it way over the crossbar. Willie Kinniburgh collected a booking for a foul on Kean and, from the free kick on 77 minutes, Thomson set up a header on goal that looped over the top. McCall immediately decided to withdraw the limping Kinniburgh and replace him with Scott Chaplain.

Barr heads over.

With ten minutes left Buchanan forced a fine save from an impossible angle by Bell but the ball flew out to Chaplain who had every chance to make a dream start but placed his first time effort past the empty net. The biggest controversy of the game arrived with seven minutes to go when Buchanan and Jim Thomson challenged for a high ball. Thomson for my money did no more than make it his. He is after all about a foot taller than the diminutive striker. If you were being charitable it might have been a foul, though a soft one. Somehow Mr Charleston contrived to see a booking in it too and to general astonishment the Queens captain was sent off for his second booking. Thistle thought they had taken the lead when Donnelly's resulting free kick was headed home but, as they celebrated in front of their fans they failed to see the assistant flag for offside and Queens cleared the ball.

As Queens attempted to reorganise Chisholm sent on Craig Reid for Craig Barr. Unfortunately Reid's first touch was a mis-kick that allowed Buchanan a sight of goal and, in attempting to make up for his error he was adjudged to have fouled the striker. Penalty! Gary Harkins duly despatched the spot kick and completed the scoring. There was still time for Thistle to replace Buchanan to rapturous applause from the home support but no time for any spectacular comebacks.

Bell goes the wrong way and the defeat is confirmed.

Attendance 2971, 810 of which were Queen of the South fans.