Match ends, Queen of the South 5, Ayr United 0.
Queen of SthQueen of the South5AyrAyr United0
Stephen Dobbie scored four goals - and missed a penalty - as Queen of the South thumped Championship leaders Ayr.
Dobbie bagged a hat-trick in 10 blistering first-half minutes, one from the spot.
The veteran striker had a second penalty saved but Gary Harkins added a fourth for Queens before the interval.
And after Daniel Harvie's dismissal, Dobbie netted again with six minutes remaining, sending Gary Naysmith's men third in the table.
Dobbie's remarkable display continued his searing start to the season. He has scored 18 goals in just 10 games in all competitions so far, with eight coming in the league.
He has five more goals in the Championship than his nearest rival in the top-scorer charts, Ayr's Lawrence Shankland.
The crushing defeat, Ayr's first of the season, knocked the Honest Men off the league summit - they are one of four teams on seven points, two shy of new leaders Ross County.
The 35-year-old opened the scoring after just 12 minutes, collecting possession after colleague Lyndon Dykes tumbled and scoring.
Harvie fouled Andrew Stirling eight minutes later, allowing Dobbie to double his tally from the penalty spot.
And the former Hibernian forward sealed his treble just two minutes later, rounding goalkeeper Ross Doohan and calmly finishing.
Dobbie was denied an incredible fourth 14 minutes before the break, Doohan this time saving his effort from 12 yards.
But there was nothing the Ayr stopper could do to keep out Harkins' brilliant, powerful shot.
Harvie was shown a second yellow card for dissent with 11 minutes remaining, and Dobbie combined neatly with Dykes to complete the scoring.
'It's going to be some league' - reaction
Queen of the South manager Gary Naysmith: "If teams are going to play like that in the Championship, it's going to be some league.
"We were excellent going forward and Stephen (Dobbie) is going to get the headlines and the forward players will get the goals, but just as big for us was the defence and keeping Lawrence Shankland and Michael Moffat quiet, or limiting them to half-chances
Ayr United manager Ian McCall: "We were very poor and they were pretty good, I don't think we handled the big boy (Lyndon) Dykes all day, and Stephen Dobbie scored the goals so will get all the praise.
"It's been an incredible, outstanding start and this result doesn't change that. It was a bad day at the office for all of us. All their good players played well and all our good players didn't."
Line-ups
Queen of Sth
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Martin
- 2Mercer
- 6DoyleBooked at 40mins
- 12Semple
- 3Marshall
- 7StirlingBooked at 68mins
- 8Jacobs
- 14HarkinsSubstituted forIvisonat 90+1'minutes
- 10ToddBooked at 15mins
- 11DobbieSubstituted forMurrayat 90'minutes
- 25Dykes
Substitutes
- 16Watson
- 17Murray
- 19Bell
- 20Leighfield
- 24Harvey
- 26Ivison
Ayr
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Doohan
- 6GegganBooked at 79mins
- 5RoseBooked at 31minsSubstituted forSmithat 45'minutes
- 16Adams
- 3HarvieBooked at 79mins
- 10Forrest
- 4KerrBooked at 40minsSubstituted forBellat 45'minutes
- 18MurdochBooked at 64mins
- 8Crawford
- 7MoffatSubstituted forMcDaidat 69'minutes
- 17Shankland
Substitutes
- 9Moore
- 11McDaid
- 12McGuffie
- 14Ferguson
- 15Bell
- 19Hare-Reid
- 27Smith
- Referee:
- Colin Steven
- Attendance:
- 2,498
Match Stats
Home TeamQueen of SthAway TeamAyr
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away3
- Corners
- Home2
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Queen of the South 5, Ayr United 0.
Substitution
Substitution, Queen of the South. Robbie Ivison replaces Gary Harkins.
Substitution
Substitution, Queen of the South. Connor Murray replaces Stephen Dobbie.
Post update
Gary Harkins (Queen of the South) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Geggan (Ayr United).
Post update
Attempt missed. Declan McDaid (Ayr United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Foul by Josh Todd (Queen of the South).
Post update
Andy Murdoch (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Queen of the South 5, Ayr United 0. Stephen Dobbie (Queen of the South) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lyndon Dykes.
Post update
Foul by Andy Stirling (Queen of the South).
Post update
Lawrence Shankland (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Dismissal
Daniel Harvie (Ayr United) is shown the red card.
Booking
Andrew Geggan (Ayr United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Andy Stirling (Queen of the South) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Geggan (Ayr United).
Post update
Foul by Lyndon Dykes (Queen of the South).
Post update
Jamie Adams (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Andy Stirling (Queen of the South).
Post update
Andy Murdoch (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
