Dumbarton condemned Queens to their third defeat on the spin after a wonder goal from Ryan Stevenson and penalty from Garry Fleming was enough for the points to heading back to the Rock.
Substitute Derek Lyle scored a late goal to reduce the deficit to one but it wasn`t enough for Queens to get anything out of the match.
Queens made two changes from Tuesday night`s last minute Scottish Cup defeat at Cliftonhill. Jamie Hamill, who scored on Tuesday, and Daniel Carmichael, making his second Palmerston debut, replaced Derek Lyle and Chris Higgins.
Darren Brownlie shifted across to join Andy Dowie at the heart of Queens` defence. Lyndon Dykes joined Stephen Dobbie to lead the line for the Doonhamers.
The last time Dumbarton visited Palmerston, Queens produced one of their best performances of the season and hit the Sons for six. Queens haven`t won in the Championship in their last seven attempts and a defeat against Dumbarton would have the Doonhamers looking over their shoulders at the bottom end of the table.
A minutes silence to remember the victims of the Chapecoense air disaster
Queens nearly had an early lead when a long ball found Stephen Dobbie, who squared to Lyndon Dykes and he quickly passed to Mark Millar on the edge of the box but his effort trickled well wide of the `keepers far post.
Lyndon Dykes made a quick run and was fouled by former Annan Athletic forward Josh Todd just outside the right-hand side of the box. Up-stepped Stephen Dobbie, who hasn`t scored in the Championship in seven games, and his curling effort beat Alan Martin but swirled inches wide of the top corner.
Queens had another great opportunity to move ahead three minutes later, when Jake Pickard pass slipped in Dobbie but his low strike was palmed away by Martin before gathering the ball.
The hosts had the majority of the ball and pressured Stephen Atiken`s side and were very lucky to not be behind 25 minutes in.
Darren Barr brought down the ongoing Lyndon Dykes and received a deserved caution for the foul. Stephen Dobbie picked the ball up and his free-kick from 30-yards
Another great through ball from Jamie Hamill, released Grant Anderson one-on-one with the goalkeeper but once again Martin wasn`t to be beat and pulled off a superb save to his left to deny him. Dykes followed up but his effort was far easier for Martin to easily gather.
It was all one way traffic until the half hour mark and with the Sons first attempt they took the lead. Ryan Stevenson picked the ball up and 25-yards his rocket stunned Palmerston and gave the visitors an unlikely lead.
Top corner from Stevenson
The hosts could have been level instantly when Daniel Carmichael`s cross from the left was met by Anderson but Martin was on hand again and pulled off an incredible save.
Marton denies Anderson
The visitors broke forward and won a corner-kick and after a couple of poor clearances the ball fell to striker Garry Fleming who tried to match Stevenson`s rocket with one of his own but this time couldn`t test Robinson.
But it wouldn`t be long until Fleming doubled his side`s advantage when referee Gavin Duncan awarded the Sons a soft penalty when he deemed Hamill to have fouled Thomson.
Up stepped Fleming and he made no mistake from the spot kick, firing the ball into the top corner of the net giving Robinson no chance.
No mistake from the spot
Queens midfielder Mark Millar was cautioned for a cynical foul on Ryan Stevenson and that would be the last meaningful action of the first half.
HALF TIME
QOS 0-2 DUMBARTON
Queens had it all to do in the second period and almost pulled one back when Daniel Carmichael went past his marker. His cross flew across the face of goal but no-one was there to get on the end of the ball, Dykes being the nearest.
It was another frustrating afternoon for the Doonhamers and it looked like it wasn`t going to be their day when Dobbie`s rising shot went over the bar. Dobbie had another chance to reduce the deficit but his low powerful effort fizzled past Martin`s left-hand post.
Like the opening exchanges of the first half, Queens looked like the only side hunting for a goal.
On the hour mark caretaker manager Jim Thomson made his first change, striker Derek Lyle replacing Grant Anderson. Queens shuffled their formation to a wide 4-3-3, with Dykes occupying the right forward role.
Youngster Owen Moxon was brought on for the already booked Mark Millar five minutes later to freshen up the midfield area.
But it was Dumbarton who had the chance to extend their lead but Ryan Stevenson`s low free-kick from 20-yard was comfortably held by Robinson.
It wasn`t the greatest of games but Queens continued to get into the game and could`ve when Hamill crossed the ball in from the right but again no-one could get on the end of the inviting delivery.
Queens couldn`t create many clear-cut chances against a stuffy Dumbarton who had ten men behind the ball at all times in the second period.
But with ten minutes to go Queens finally got on the scoresheet when Dobbie`s powerful cross was bundled home by substitute Derek Lyle and gave the Palmerston faithful some hope of salvaging something from the contest.
With Queens pushing for the equaliser the Dumbarton defence grew in numbers when Garry Fleming was replaced by right-back Craig Pettigrew and goal scorer Stevenson off for McCallum.
The last chance for Queens fell to Jake Pickard but his long-range effort flashed past the post.
FULL TIME
QOS 1-2 DUMBARTON
It`s now eight games without a Championship victory and all of a sudden are only four points ahead of Stevie Aitken`s side in eighth.
Next up for Queens is a home tie against bottom of the pile St Mirren on Tuesday.