Queen of the South 1-0 Dunfermline Athletic: Dumfries side keep up play-off push

Willie Gibson scored the winner at Palmerston

Queen of the South boosted their Scottish Championship play-off hopes with a third successive victory against Dunfermline Athletic.

Willie Gibson's fine strike from the edge of the box after the break was the difference at Palmerston.

Dunfermline - who had Declan McManus' penalty saved and Lewis Mayo sent off late on - missed the chance to cut the the 12-point gap to leaders Hearts.

They slip to third, with Queens now just three points behind in fourth.

• Reaction & as it happened

Queen of the South manager Allan Johnston: "We had to work for it, they had a lot of possession. I thought second half we were excellent, and obviously we get the goal."

Dunfermline manager Stevie Crawford: "Disappointed, I thought we were very good in the first half, but for the possession we had we didn't work the goalkeeper enough. We've just got to make sure we use the hurt from today."