It was a second game of the season between the clubs with The Dark Blues having won a Premier Sports League Cup tie 2-1 at Ochilview back in July and Queen’s head coach Owen Coyle selected the same side for the third outing running with new loan recruit from English Premiership side David Boateng on the bench.

With four minutes gone ex-Dundee goalkeeper Calum Ferrie had to move sharply off his line to prevent Paul McMullan reaching a through ball from Josh Mulligan.

Local lad Simon Murray had a glimpse of the home goal a minute later after Grant Savoury reached the by-line and cut the ball back with the striker’s well-struck effort deflected over for a corner.

Dundee broke at speed after the dead ball failed to trouble their defence however Dom Thomas got back to help clear.

Queen’s backed by a noisy away support, attacked again with Murray swapping passes with Scott Williamson before sending a low shot that was scooped up by Harrison Sharp.

Ferrie had to race from goal again on 17 minutes when Zach Robinson was sent clear and it was a close-run affair with the hosts awarded a thrown in after the shot-stopper had kicked the ball against the attacker.

As Dundee kept up the pressure Cammy Kerr headed down to Mulligan and, when his shot flashed past Ferrie, Stephen Eze stepped in to clear.

The Dark Blues were enjoying a good spell and after pinning the visitors back into their box Lyall Cameron saw a long drive saved by Ferrie.

With 26 minutes gone Robinson got in-behind the visiting defence again as he chased a Cameron pass and just as he was away to shoot Eze collided into him. After the defender was booked Robinson rolled the penalty into one corner as Ferrie dived into the other.

It took a diving header from Eze to send a dangerous cross from Tyler French behind for a corner and as Dundee continued to press Eze slid in to block Jordon McGhee’s shot from the edge of the box.

Eleven minutes from the break Thomas swung over a free-kick that found Lee Kilday 12 yards out with Sharp perfectly placed to save the centre back’s header.

The visitors had the next opening as well with Jake Davidson firing just wide after he had charged up the right and was picked out by a cross from the left.

Dundee responded to that scare in spectacular fashion with Robinson grabbing his second goal of the afternoon. The on-loan Wimbledon attacker was fed the ball some 30 yards out and he sent a fierce drive searing high into the net with Ferrie well beaten.

Coyle’s side were out sharply for the second half and on 50 minutes Murray was fouled 22 yards out. Savoury stepped up to take the free-kick however his curling effort cleared Sharp’s bar.

Five minutes later Tommy Robson wriggled clear on the left and his drilled cross found Williamson who turned and fired for goal however a Dundee body got in the way.

On 59 minutes Queen’s should have pulled a goal back after a fine flowing move from left to right that saw Thomas find Murray who teed up Davidson who cracked a shot goalward. Sharp pulled off a fine save and then made an even better stop as he leapt up and prevented Murray from turning the loose ball home.

Ferrie produced a close-range stop five minutes later from home substitute Zak Rudden after a cute backheel from Ben Williamson.

The Queen’s shot-stopper excelled on 69 minutes when he finger-tipped away a Mulligan header with Rudden heading the rebound into the side-netting.

The hosts were not to be denied and a minute later, after Ferrie and then Davidson had cleared from the goalline Rudden slammed home the loose ball.

Queen’s head’s refused to go down and Thomas forced Sharp into a fine save at his near post as the Black and Whites tried to find a route back into the game.

Dundee substitutes Paul McGowan and Niall McGinn combined three minutes from time however Ferrie was not troubled as McGinn volleyed wide.

Queen’s Park: Calum Ferrie, Jake Davidson, Lee Kilday, Stephen Eze, Tommy Robson, Grant Savoury (Joshua McPake 85′), Jack Thomson (Liam Brown 73′), Malachi Boateng (David Boateng 62′), Dom Thomas, Scott Williamson (Johnny Kenny 73′), Simon Murray.

Subs not used: Jason Naismith, Louis Longridge, Lewis Moore, Jacques Heraghty (G/k), Alex Bannon

Dundee: Harrison Sharp, Cammy Kerr, Tyler French, Jordan McGhee, Lee Ashcroft, Josh Mulligan, Zach Robinson ((Zak Rudden 60′) Finlay Robertson 86′)), Paul McMullan (Paul McGowan 60′), Ben Williamson (Max Anderson 78′), Lyall Cameron (Niall McGinn 60′), Joe Grayson.

Subs not used: Adam Legzdins, Luke Strachan

Referee: Grant Irvine