Rangers loanee Lewis Mayo was sent off as Dunfermline lost 1-0 at Queen of the South on Saturday afternoon, with Dapo Mebude making a comeback for the hosts after recently breaching Covid regulations.
There was a total of four Gers loanees involved in the fixture at Palmerston Park, with defenders James Maxwell and Rhys Breen starting for QoS and Mebude named on the bench, while Mayo started in midfield for the Pars.
Dunfermline were tipped by some to run Hearts close after a strong start to the Championship season but they have lacked consistency since the turn of the year, while Queen of the South are very much on the charge.
The visitors dominated possession for the majority of the contest but Willie Gibson’s 50th-minute strike was enough to secure all three points for the home side, who have now won three games in a row.
It was a successful outing for defenders Maxwell and Breen, who helped to secure a second clean sheet in three games, while Mebude played the final half an hour on his return to action.
The 19-year-old forward was one of five Gers players to breach Covid regulations earlier this month but no SFA punishment has been handed out as yet and he was likely delighted to receive playing time following the completion of his self-isolation period.
It was a day to forget for Lewis Mayo, though, who was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 90th minute.
The versatile 20-year-old was cautioned in the first half for a foul on Niyah Joseph and then given his marching orders for the first time in his senior career after taking out Mebude in the closing stages.
Dunfermline dropped to third following the defeat while Queen of the South are fourth.
