Queen of the South 6-1 Livingston

Oct 5 2008 Michael Baillie at Palmerston

LIVI boss Roberto Landi had boasted he'd deliver Champions League football - but a Palmerston pasting from new leaders Queens left him choking on his words.

The Doonhamers laced the Lions 6-1 to leapfrog them in the table - the first time in five years they have been top.

And after this stunning performance it will take something special to stop Gordon Chisholm's men.

Doubles from David Weatherston and Stephen Dobbie along with a stunning strike from Jamie McQuilken and a Paul Burns goal completed the rout.

Dave Mackay notched Livi's consolation and their dreadful day was made even worse when Calum Elliot was sent off.

Weatherston knows everyone will be trying to shoot Queens down now they are in front.

And he said: "Obviously going top is what we were aiming for but the hard part is staying there - everyone will be gunning for us.

"We need to perform well in the league as there are four or five teams who could win it."

Delighted gaffer Chisholm said: "All the boys were fantastic, we blew them out of the water.

'It was a great performance and a greater result but I'll keep their feet on the ground.

"We're there to be knocked but I'm sure we can handle that."

By contrast, 24 hours after his pledge to get the Lions rubbing shoulders with the giants of Europe Landi (left) was shellshocked, although he refused to blame anyone other than himself for the pounding.

He said: "The problems start from me. We win together and and lose together. The team is my responsibility and I'll learn from this. It was a very bad day for us."

This was the third consecutive week Livi had been involved in a top-of-the-table clash.

And while they came through against Dundee and Partick Thistle with six points they were up against it in just three minutes.

Weatherston whipped in a low cross that Dobbie controlled on the edge of the penalty area before spinning Chris Innes who slipped on the wet surface.

Dobbie made the most of the big defender's misfortune, rifling a low shot across Pierre Martini into the bottom corner.

Queens second arrived in 13 minutes. The Livi defence tried to play offside but Dobbie timed his run to perfection, rounded Martini then slotted home.

Landi's men hauled themselves back in to the game in 25 minutes with a stunning strike from Mackay.

The full-back gathered a pass from Liam Fox, cut in on to his left foot and unleashed an unstoppable shot from 25 yards that screamed in at the top corner.

Landi reshuffled three minutes later, replacing midfielder Fernando Giarrizzo with defender Cameron McDonald.

This allowed Murray Davidson, who had looked uncomfortable deputising for the injured James McPake at centre-half, to return to the centre of midfield.

Livi leaked another soft goal in injury time.

McDonald conceded a needless free-kick on Dobbie and from the set-piece Harris curled in an in-swinging cross that should have been gathered by Martini.

But the keeper elected to punch and the ball fell to Weatherston on the edge of the area to lash home a volley. Although Livi brought on top scorer Leigh Griffiths five minutes after the break Queens ran away with the game.

Weatherston notched their fourth when he turned in Paul Burns' cross in 58 minutes.

Livi's miserable afternoon got even worse when Elliot was needlessly sent off in 73 minutes.

The striker was booked for scything down Michael McGowan.

Then Elliot sarcastically applauded ref Chris Boyle who promptly flashed another yellow card and a red at him.

A minute later sub McQuilken lashed home a 30-yard strike to make it five.

And with seven minutes left Burns raced clean through to notch the sixth.

MoM: Weatherston (QoS)