Dunfermline 1 Dundee 1

Dunfermline 1 Dundee 1

RELIEVED Dundee boss Jocky Scott admitted his title-favourites survived a DOING - after stealing a point to stay joint top despite being pounded by the Pars.

Dunfermline took the game to the Dark Blues and created enough chances to romp home easily.

But a combination of sub-standard finishing and last-gasp Dundee defending ensured a blank scoreline at the interval.

Scott's men looked a different side after the break and took the lead through Gary Harkins on the hour, but Graham Bayne blasted a deserved equaliser for the Fifers 13 minutes from time.

Afterwards Scott said: "I'm just pleased to be coming away from here with a result of sorts.

"They really gave us a doing in the first-half. They had a lot of possession around our box and we just didn't seem to be getting up to the other end of the park at all.

We managed to lift it a bit in the second half but I'm disappointed at the way in which we conceded the equaliser - especially as it came from a set-piece.

"Maybe there was a bit of a hangover from Tuesday night's Cup tie against Rangers. Some of the players looked tired, both physically and mentally, and with hindsight perhaps I should have made some changes.

"But after the way they played against Rangers it would have been unfair to leave anyone out.

"Overall, it was a great game for the neutrals and I'm happy to be leaving with a point."

Dunfermline took the game to Dundee from the kick-off and they almost opened the scoring in the third minute when Willie Gibson's curling shot slipped narrowly wide of Andy Bulloch's right-hand post.

Greg Ross then fired in a well-struck shot which was deflected wide by Dens defender Gary Mackenzie, before Fifers forward Andy Kirk blasted a cut-back from David Graham over Bulloch's crossbar from close range.

Graham sent a free header just wide as the Pars pushed for the opener, but Bulloch's goal remained intact at the interval and it was a transformed Dundee side which emerged for the second-half.

They pressurised the Dunfermline goal for the first time when hitman Leigh Griffiths saw his effort saved by Pars keeper Greg Fleming.

Amazingly, the Dark Blues edged into a shock lead with 60 minutes on the clock, Harkins heading past Fleming from a Sean Higgins corner.

But Dunfermline recorded a deserved equaliser in 87 minutes when Bayne scored with his first touch after coming on for Joe

Cardle - heading home from Gibson's free kick.

Pars boss Jim McIntyre claimed: "I thought we did enough to take all three points.

"We created plenty chances and our style of play was very pleasing, but lacked a cutting edge up front and to lose a goal from a set piece was very disappointing."

Queen of the South 2 Ross County 0

GORDON CHISHOLM saw his Queens side go top for the third time this season then admitted the hardest part would be staying there.

Queens avenged two earlier defeats in six days to County as the Dingwall men dumped them out of the Alba Cup and handed them their first league loss.

Chisholm said: "We have been tussling with Ross County and one or two other teams already this season to get to the top and really the problem is that everyone wants to knock you off.

"It was sweet to get the result but I was happier with the performance we put in.

"The players combined well, they took the goals well and they endured some intense pressure from the Highland side in the second period.

"But as far as we are concerned it is still a learning curve but with many of the players here never having had to endure the pressure of being on top."

Queens had the better chances right at the start and in the opening seconds a long throw-in from Bob Harris reached Derek Holmes in front of goal but he got his header wrong and it was cleared by the defenders. Then Willie McLaren missed a good chance to break the deadlock when Stewart Kean set him up in front of goal but he curled the ball round the post with only the keeper to beat.

Within minutes the striker forced Alex Keddie to head over his own goal as he ran clear to swing the ball over from the wing.

At the other end a neat move by Richard Brittain saw Michael Gardyne steal in behind the defence only to see his shot go well over.

County were unlucky when a free-kick by Scott Morrison forced keeper David Hutton to fingertip the ball around the post.

The breakthrough came in 26 minutes when Holmes and Paul Burns both went for a long ball from defence and it broke for Burns to crack it in from 25 yards.

County made a determined bid to pull themselves back into it and Hutton had to dive at the feet of Garry Wood to thwart him.

Then from a corner by Brittain, Keddie outjumped the Dumfries defenders and was unlucky to see his effort fly wide.

As County piled on the pressure a shot from Iain Vigurs was deflected for a corner.

But they were caught out on the break as Gerry McLaughlan cleared the ball upfield and McLaren trailed it into the County half before putting Burns clear on the right.

He cut the ball back for Kean to slip into the empty net.

County boss Derek Adams made a double switch at the break in a bid to fire up his side, sending on subbstitutes Paul di Giacomo and Steven Craig for Gardyne and Stuart Kettlewell.

Initially it was the County goal that was under siege as Holmes broke free only to see his effort frantically cleared off the line.

At the other end Hutton brought off a fine save in turning away a 15-yard drive from Garry Wood and seconds later he was again on the spot to pull down a fierce drive from Brittain.

County turned up the heat as they tried to reduce the deficit and had the Dumfries defence under pressure for lengthy spells.

In pushing forward they were leaving themselves open at the back and David Lilley was unlucky with a strong header before Kean missed an opportunity to seal the points when he was clean through but shot straight at the keeper.

County boss Adams admitted: "I feel we missed one or two chances.

"Had we managed to pull one back then I think we would have gone on to at least get a share of the points.

"But although we beat Queens at Dingwall a couple of times last month we always knew it would be difficult on their ground.

"We did lose a couple of soft goals but certainly turned up the pressure in the second-half. Credit to Queens for taking their opportunities."

Inverness 4 Morton 1

TERRY BUTCHER insists hat-trick hero Adam Rooney is ready to take the First Division by storm after he ripped Ton apart.

Rooney's wonder show helped end Caley's seven-month wait for a home league win.

Rooney has made more than 50 appearances for Inverness, yet yesterday made it 13 goals in just 16 starts.

Butcher said: "It's a relief to win at home at last and the manner was pleasing.

"I'm delighted to see some goals here for the fans.

"Adam is leading the line very well in our new system and he's amazing - he's never let his confidence drop.

"He has great belief in himself and it is great to see him turn in his two best games for us in the last two weeks.

"It's not just the goals, but the way he plays. He's committed and works very hard for the team."

Butcher's men were ahead after 19 minutes. Stuart Golabek's long ball from deep was knocked down by Dougie Imrie and met with a fine finish from Rooney.

It was soon 2-0 when Nauris Bulvitis fired home. Ton pulled one in 34 minutes when Erik Paartalu skipped past Grant Munro and Bulvitis to beat Ryan Esson.

But three minutes before the break Richie Foran created space for Rooney to grab his second.

Rooney's hat-trick was completed from the spot in 51 minutes after Imrie was clearly tugged back by David McGregor in the box.

Ton player-boss James Grady, who is in charge until the end of the season, said: "We have injuries and there has been a lot going on in the background.

"But neither can be used as an excuse - too many of our lads didn't perform."

Partick 1 Raith Rovers 2

MARK CAMPBELL threw himself in the way of everything Partick could launch at him - but he ran for cover when team-mate David McGurn lost the plot.

The Raith keeper went mental at the match officials after he was judged to have carried the ball out for a corner.

His angry protest earned a booking from ref Brian Winter but defender Dougie Hill had to hold him back to make sure he didn't end up getting a red card.

Campbell said: "Davie got carried away a wee bit and I got well away from it. He's calmed down now!"

The Jags took the lead against the run of play in 33 minutes when Paul Cairney whipped a low ball over from the right and Simon Donnelly rolled a perfectly-placed shot into the bottom left corner.

Rovers hit back two minutes from the break with a fabulous volley from on-loan Ryan Wallace. It was the first league goal Thistle had conceded at home this season - and the second was to follow in the 62nd minute.

Gregory Tade was free to charge down the middle but keeper Jonny Tuffey raced out to block his low shot with his legs.

However, the rebound flew over to the back post and when Tuffey was caught out by the bounce, Robert Sloan had the time to turn and crack home the winner.

Jags boss Ian McCall said: "We deserved to lose. We were poor and Raith thoroughly deserved the win. Their centre-halves were outstanding."

Raith boss John McGlynn said: "I thought Thistle scored against the run of play, but we fought back and it was a great strike from young Ryan to equalise."

Airdrie 3 Ayr United 1

KENNY BLACK saluted his battling Diamonds after they finally grabbed their first league win of the season.

The Airdrie gaffer must have feared the worst when a crazy own goal cancelled out Alan Trouten's opener, but second-half strikes from Diarmuid O'Carroll and Trouten sealed the win.

Black said: "I thought the boys might have had the stuffing knocked out of them by the own goal. It was a horrible goal to lose but they didn't let it get to them."

Referee Lee Evans incensed the home fans in the first minute when he denied them a penalty for Martyn Campbell's challenge on Ricky Waddell.

Airdrie did take the lead in 35 minutes when Trouten fired Waddell's cross past Craig Samson.

Ayr pulled level on the stroke of half-time when Ryan McCann deflected a harmless through ball into his own net. But Airdrie hit back on the restart when Diarmuid O'Carroll prodded a cross high into the net and Trouten then sealed the points. Ayr are now bottom of the table but defiant gaffer Brian Reid said: "We will get ourselves out of this."

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