It was an emotional night at Palmerston, and a night in which the football very much played second-fiddle to what was Stephen Dobbie?s last ever game for the club.
To nobody?s surprise, the skipper started on in his 283rd, and final, appearance for the club. There was just a second start for Tommy Goss, while Jack Leighfield started in goals for the first time 2021. This meant that Rohan Ferguson and Connor Shields dropped to the bench, while Isaiah Jones and Aidan Fitzpatrick replaced Euan East and Dan Pybus in the only other changes to the side that drew with Ayr.
The Dee had Charlie Adam in their midfield with Jordan McGhee forced to drop into centre-half in the absence of Liam Fontaine. Osman Sow, who netted a hat-trick on Boxing Day at Palmerston, was amongst the subs for the away team.
The South almost made the perfect start to proceedings with Jones? pace on the right causing early problems for Cammy Kerr, before he cut-back to find Ayo Obileye, but the towering midfielder could only slide his effort the wrong side of the post.
After that wake-up call the away side began dictating things. Paul McMullan danced through the South on the right-hand side, before striking the bar from the edge of the box.
It wasn?t enough of a warning for Queens to tighten up though as they found themselves a goal down after 16 minutes.
A loopy ball over the top held up on a sticky Palmerston surface for Jason Cummings to latch onto. He went around a hesitant Leighfield before finding the back of the net from 12 yards.
Cummings finishes well
In search of an equaliser Queens were trying to find Dobbie, who saw a few first-half efforts blocked by the Dundee defence.
The away team still looked more threatening though and should have doubled their lead on 33 minutes. A through ball found its way to Max Anderson, but the young midfielder was only able to send his low shot wide of the post.
They didn?t dwell on the miss though and just a minute later regained the ball from a Queens goalkick. The ball was sent into the box and found its way, again, to Jason Cummings. Dundee?s number 35 saw his first effort saved by Leighfield before the rebound seemed to hit him on the shin, with the ball rolling across the line in what felt like slow motion.
Cummings nets the second
HT: Queens 0-2 Dundee
Queens had work to do to turn the game around.
It was always going to be a big ask though, despite Rhys Breen being withdrawn at the break for the returning Nortei Nortey.
The first chance did fall to Queens with a cross meeting Fitzpatrick on the edge of the box, but he fired his effort into the ground, causing no issues for Adam Legzdins.
Goss was taken off for Shields on the hour mark after a nice performance that included some neat touches before the King of Queens was replaced one final time on 72 minutes.
A career that?s spanned seven and a half years, including 283 appearances, 166 goals, 12 hat-tricks, a Scottish Cup Final, UEFA Cup appearances and 43 goals over the course of a single season, the Hall of Famer bowed out in front of a tearful Palmerston.
Dobbie leaves the Palmerston pitch as a Queens player for the last time
Niyah Joseph was the man to replace Queens? second top goalscorer of all-time.
Despite looking for a goal back though, Dundee were able to see out the game with relative ease. With Raith Rovers losing at home to Hearts, and with 10 men, the Dark Blues knew all they had to do was see out the remaining 20 or so minutes and second place was theirs.
FT: Queens 0-2 Dundee
Arbroath?s stalemate with Morton meant that the South end the season in 6th place ? the last time Queens finished any higher than 6th was in the 2014/15 season.
A disappointing performance on a day that will live long in the memory of Doonhamers.
Cummings may have got the goals but it?ll be Stephen Dobbie who will get the headlines after he called time on his career at Queens. He will go down as one of the best to ever play for the Doonhamers, and for many, myself included, will always be known as the best.
Finlay Jack