Queen of the South 0-2 PARS

DUNFERMLINE secured a hugely important three points in their battle against relegation with an excellent victory at Queen of the South this afternoon.

First half goals from outstanding duo Graham Dorrans and Dan Pybus earned John Hughes' outfit just their second win on the road in this season's Championship.

It's a result that lifts the Pars - ninth before the start of play - into seventh, four points clear of the bottom placed Doonhamers, and one ahead of Morton, who drop into the relegation play-off spot.

This was a well-deserved success for Athletic, who bossed the opening 45 minutes in impressive fashion, and saw the game out in a professional manner in the second half.

The home fans were not slow to voice their displeasure at their team who, despite boss Allan Johnston making a triple half-time substitution, failed to overly trouble visiting keeper Owain Fon Williams.

Hughes handed a debut to Joe Chalmers, who joined earlier in the week from Ayr United, in midfield while another newcomer, Leeds United loanee Bobby Kamwa, was named on the bench.

Also amongst the substitutes was Dom Thomas, who has been working his way back to fitness following knee surgery that his kept him sidelined since November.

Johnston had been busy in the transfer market through the week as well, bringing in Motherwell defender, Darragh O'Connor, and Middlesbrough attacker, Sam Folarin, who were both handed starting debuts.

The Pars, though, were the side making the running in a first period that saw some of their supporters arrive as late as 20 minutes in due to traffic problems caused by an overturned lorry on the M74.

Lewis McCann tested the reflexes of goalkeeper Josh Rae from six yards courtesy of a low ball by Steven Lawless - also a top performer in black and white - before, a minute later, Ryan Dow had the ball in the net, only for referee, Greg Aitken, to disallow it for a push.

Dunfermline, however, wouldn't be denied and took the lead with 20 minutes gone.

Lawless, alive to the play, quickly threw the ball back into play and down the right hand side for Dow.

The former Dundee United man clipped a fine cross from the goalline, at the edge of the area, towards Dorrans who, from 15 yards, met the ball superbly to head home beyond the powerless Rae for his first Dunfermline goal.

It was exactly the start Hughes would have been looking for and, although Dorrans had been close to doing so with a shot that whistled narrowly wide moments after his goal, just before the half hour mark, they doubled their advantage.

A Lawless corner caused problems for the home side as Rae could only punch it clear to the edge of the box for Pybus, who latched on to it and drove a fine first-time shot home for his first Dunfermline goal.

The visitors continued to press, with Dow denied a goal on the line thanks to a combination of Rae and O'Connor after he was picked out by Lawless, while Pybus also tried his luck before the break.

Johnston responded at half-time by hauling off Ally Roy, Roberto Nditi and Folarin in favour of Ruari Paton, Josh Todd and Ben Liddle, but it failed to have much impact.

Paton did head over at the far post early in the second half, whilst slipping and under pressure from Aaron Comrie, and Wullie Gibson fired a half volley well over, but the Pars defence were in form.

They swarmed around any blue shirt that got within range of their goal, put their bodies on the line, headed away cross balls and won their tackles with great regularity.

Shea Gordon almost caught out Fon Williams at his near post with an effort from range, but scares for the Athletic fans were few and far between.

With 20 minutes to go, the visitors should have had a third when a break led by Dorrans and Lawless saw McCann picked out at the far post, but he was caught in two minds whether to square the ball or shoot, and the ball finished harmlessly past the post.

Dorrans sent a free-kick over, and then should have done better than give Rae a comfortable save from 12 yards after being picked out by Comrie, but you never sensed Dunfermline would regret not adding a third.

Kamwa was given a late cameo for Dorrans to make his Athletic bow and, although Paton and O'Connor had efforts blocked, and Euan East fired wildly over, the hosts could not breach their opponents.

Indeed, McCann could have put the seal on a fine afternoon in the last minute after Kamwa did well to pick him out but, under pressure with a difficult chance, he put the ball wide.

It didn't matter, though. The Pars had done enough to secure a crucial three points - and jump two places up the table to seventh, as they made it three games unbeaten.

Queen of the South: Rae, O'Connor, Cooper, Roy (Paton 45), Connelly, East, Nditi (Todd 45), Johnston, Gordon, Folarin (Liddle 45), Gibson.

Subs not used: Fitzpatrick, Debayo, McGrory, McKechnie, Junior, Cowie.

Pars: Fon Williams, Comrie, Donaldson, Martin, Edwards, Dow, Pybus, Chalmers, Lawless, Dorrans (Kamwa 83), McCann.

Subs not used: O'Hara, Breen, Allan, Jones, Thomas, Todd, Cole, Mehmet.

Goals: Dorrans (20), Pybus (28).

Referee: Greg Aitken.