Point won’t bring any prizes for mid-table sides
DUNFERMLINE..1 QOS .................... 1
JOE THOMSON earned a point for Queen of the South at Dunfermline’s expense last night but both clubs are stuck in no-man’s land in the Championship.
Queens remain fifth but six points behind Morton and Dundee United who are directly above them with three games in hand.
Doonhamers gaffer Gary Naysmith admitted his side’s play-off hopes are slipping away.
He said: “Realistically it’s the top four’s to throw away and this isn’t mind games. We just need to pick up as many points as we can.
“I think we edged it if you look at chances created and that’s credit to the players.”
Dunfermline, meanwhile, are 10 points adrift of the top four although seven clear of the drop zone.
Boss Allan Johnston said: “It was a poor game and not much quality football was played. We’re on a good run just now and trying to catch the teams above us.”
Pars took the lead in 17 minutes with the first real chance of the game.
A high ball forward was allowed to bounce in the box with Michael Moffat brushing aside defender Darren Brownlie and firing the ball into the net.
Queens levelled when John Rankin’s mis-hit shot rolled into Thomson’s path and he blasted home in 28 minutes.
Pars No.1 Sean Murdoch was called into action in 71 minutes – turning away Rankin’s curled effort.
A Nicky Clark strike hit the post with Dunfermline team-mate Joe Cardle curling wide soon after.
John Herron almost nicked a last-gasp winner for Pars but his header was well saved by Lee Robinson.