This victory was just the start that Queens manager Jim McIntyre wanted from his side, seeing them overcome a tough challenge from Alloa Athletic.
His side made the breakthrough in just eight minutes, when Derek Lyle and keeper John Gibson both went for the ball and it fell for the Queens man who put an overhead kick into the empty net.
Alloa had a chance to draw level minutes later when Queens failed to clear a corner, but Ryan McCord drove the ball past a post.
Alloa were repeatedly denied by keeper Alexander Clark, and he palmed away a shot from McCord form close range.
Queens missed a great chance to go further ahead when Danny Carmichael squared the ball across the line, but there was no one able to take the chance.
Then five minutes before the break the Alloa defenders were caught out when Russell broke clear and crossed for Carmichael to hit the ball into the roof of the net.
Gibson defied Lyle with a tremendous save as the striker turned on the ball and drove for the net from just six yards as Queens held on for all the points.
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