SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP

DUNFERMLINE 0 QOS 1 Lyle (45)

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH maintained their unbeaten league record as they left East End Park with all three points after seeing off the challenge of 10 man Dunfermline.

The Pars who, having slumped to their third successive defeat, are clearly taking time to adjust to the demands of Championship football.

The Doonhamers, no doubt keen to build on their excellent early season form, took the game to Dunfermline from the start and came agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the 12th minute.

Derek Lyle’s curling free kick from the edge of the penalty area flew past David Hutton, the ball striking both posts before being kicked to safety by the relieved Pars keeper.

Both Lyle and Andy Dowie then missed chances to put the visitors ahead as the home side’s defensive frailties became apparent, before a horrific blunder by Rhys McCabe gave Stephen Dobbie a clear sight of goal, the Queens frontman pulling his shot wide of target.

Dunfermline’s first significant attack finally took place in the 37th minute, a slip by Jamie Hamill presenting Michael Moffat with a scoring chance but his tame shot was held easily by Lee Robinson.

Despite their disappointing first half display, Dunfermline looked like reaching the interval on level terms. But such hopes were eradicated on the stroke of half time when Hamill’s free kick was nodded across goal by Dowie, leaving Lyle with the simple task of heading home from close range to give Queens a deserved lead.

The uphill task face by Dunfermline in the second half was magnified just after the hour when Jason Talbot received a straight red card for a foul on Kyle Jacobs.

The Fifers almost snatched a point near the end when Gavin Reilly’s effort was cleared off the line by Hamill, but it was not to be.