First Division: Queens go top after six-goal demolition

QUEEN of the South's fine year continued as they crushed Livingston 6-1 to move to the top of the table.

Gordon Chisholm's side were in imperious form as they knocked their visitors off the summit of the league.

Stephen Dobbie scored twice in the opening 12 minutes, and while Dave MacKay thundered in a 25-yard strike to get Livingston back into the game, David Weatherston struck right on half-time.

Weatherston scored again just before the hour mark. Jamie McQuilken then hit home from 25 yards and Paul Burns netted a sixth.

But Queens manager Chisholm warned: "We are top of the league now and everyone will be wanting to knock us off."

Dundee travelled to Partick Thistle with a patched-up side which included Alex Rae listed as a trialist substitute. But the Dens Park manager was pleased with the grit shown by his team to earn a 0-0 draw at Firhill on Saturday.

Rae said: "We had seven or eight players out injured so I am pleased with the performance in a hard fought game. The players can take a lot of credit from it."

St Johnstone made it three wins in a row to get back onto the coat tails of the promotion chasing pack with a 3-1 victory over Airdrie United. Gavin Swankie scored in only four minutes when his deflected long-distance effort beat Stephen Robertson. Airdrie, who have now lost four successive games, got level just after half-time when David Nixon headed home but Steven Milne fired the Perth side ahead again and then netted a clincher in injury time.

Saints manager Derek McInnes said: "Airdrie made it difficult, but the players deserve credit for the good run they are on."

Dunfermline are another side creeping back up the table after their 2-0 win at Clyde. First-half goals from Andy Kirk and then Kevin Harper were enough to take the points back to Fife.

But Clyde manager John Brown warned his players: "These guys have jobs on the line. Based on that performance, we are in for another long season."

Morton remain rooted to the bottom of the table after going down 3-0 at Ross County where Richie Hart, Steven Craig and Sean Higgins scored in the space of nine second-half minutes.