Liam McLeish’s third goal of the season wasn’t enough for Airdrie as Queen of the South came from behind to secure their first league points of the campaign.

The Diamonds were also looking for a first league win as they travelled to Palmerston, but it was the home side who came out on top after a strong second half.

Club captain Cole McKinnon made his first start of the season following an ankle ligament injury, replacing Matty Yates in the only change to the Airdrie line-up which drew with East Fife a week ago.

Lewis Gibson showed early signs of promise against his old side, nutmegging a Doonhamers defender on three minutes only to be dispossessed in the box.

A lucky ricochet almost handed debutant Connor Young a golden opportunity three minutes later, but the Diamonds defence responded in numbers and hacked clear.

Much of the good early play was coming on the wings, Callum Burnside losing possession after bringing down a Declan Gallagher pass and ghosting into the box on nine minutes, with Queens’ Taylor Charters forcing a save from Jamie Sneddon after bursting down the left two minutes later.

Deniz Mehmet was equal to a curling Gibson strike before McLeish fired wide after good play by Gavin Gallagher on 14 minutes.

Ben Johnstone sent his strike well over the top before Gibson bent in another effort, this one dipping just too late.

Johnstone should have done better with a 21st-minute chance after a quick one-two with player-manager Nicky Clark, and Gibson’s cross went unchallenged two minutes later as play continued to move from end to end.

Burnside went close with an angled strike on 25 minutes, McKinnon then getting underneath his shot on the half-hour mark as Airdrie began to seize control of the match.

A booking for recent Queens signing Shaun Want riled the home support, but the Diamonds remained focused on their attack with Dylan MacDonald getting forward well on 34 minutes only to see his effort blocked.

The Airdrie full-back was involved again three minutes later, feeding Burnside who delivered a teasing cross. McLeish’s back post run left him with a simple angled header to open the scoring.

The Diamonds striker should have had a penalty five minutes before the break, Niall Rogerson clipping him as he dashed across to meet Declan Gallagher’s header, but referee Ross Birrell waved play on.

A nightmare end to the half for Doonhamers boss Clark saw him fire weakly at Sneddon, lose possession to Craig Ross, and go off injured after lengthy treatment on the pitch.

The player-manager’s replacement, Cole Coughlin, would play a pivotal role in the turnaround which occurred after the half-time break.

Airdrie would have doubled their lead on 50 minutes were it not for an outstanding fingertip save by Mehmet, who touched a stinging MacDonald effort over the bar.

The ex-Dunfermline keeper had an easier job three minutes later as McLeish’s strike was well blocked into his arms.

Caleb Goldie almost grabbed a freak equaliser when his mishit cross looked for all the world like it was destined for the net, but it dropped the wrong side of the bar for Queens.

Ross made a fine block from the lively Coughlin on 60 minutes.

With the hosts pushing hard, Airdrie were forced into a double change as MacDonald pulled up with a muscle strain just as McKinnon’s race was run. Adam Devine and Dapo Mebude replaced the pair, who had been among Airdrie’s top performers.

Queen of the South’s equaliser came three minutes after the change, a free-kick from the right bouncing up for Coughlin, whose shot from just inside the box spun up off the turf and looped into the net.

Young saw a free-kick well held by Sneddon as the Dumfries men chased a second, but the Doonhamers were perhaps fortunate to keep 11 men on the pitch when Goldie got away with a booking after an awful challenge on Burnside on 73 minutes.

Five minutes later the hosts had the lead, Zander Mackenzie leading the charge after winning possession deep in the Queens half, and well placed to get on the end of the loose ball and fire high into the net after Craig Ross had tackled Liam Smith.

Burnside forced an 80th-minute corner which was well defended, and in the final minute linked up with fellow Rangers loanee Josh Gentles to get a reversed shot away, pulling the last chance of the match agonisingly wide of the post.

The result sees Queens leapfrog Airdrie on goal difference, with the Diamonds in need of a result against Alloa next weekend to get off the foot of the table.

First up is a KDM Evolution Trophy tie against St Mirren B on Tuesday evening as the squad once again try to revive their fortunes.