Dunfermline Athletic 1-2 Queen of the South: Pars face play-off to stay in Championship
- Published
Darragh O'Connor's winner means Queens finish two points behind Dunfermline at the bottom
Dunfermline Athletic will need to come through the play-offs to stay in the Scottish Championship after losing at home to relegated Queen of the South.
John Hughes' side had to better Ayr United's result against Partick Thistle and Josh Edwards' early driven goal gave them hope of survival.
But Ayr quickly established a 2-0 lead before adding a second-half third.
Joe Chalmers, meanwhile, headed into his own net just after the break and Darragh O'Connor fired Queens' winner.
After a lacklustre second-half collapse, Dunfermline will now visit Queen's Park, who finished fourth in League 1, in Wednesday's first leg of their play-off semi-final having relinquished their five-game unbeaten run - and three straight victories - at East End Park.
Dunfermline Athletic manager John Hughes: "I felt in the first half and throughout the game we had enough chances to score three or four goals, but we are where we are because we're not ruthless enough and some of the goals we lose are down to desire.
"In the second half, I don't know what happened, we came out really flat. I gave it everything I've got to get them up, but we got what we deserved. We have four games to get it right."
Queen of the South player/caretaker manager Willie Gibson: "It has been a difficult week in training because our fate was sealed last week and it's hard to get the boys going when there's nothing to play for.
"But I asked them to go out and finish the season on a highest possible way. However, Dunfermline thoroughly deserved their lead and I had to challenge the boys again and second half I thought we were magnificent."