STUART McCall experienced defeat for the first time as Rangers manager as many of his side's old failings resurfaced on another wretched evening for the Ibrox club in Dumfries.

McCall's team took to the field against Queen of the South at Palmerston Park last night hoping to win and reclaim second place in the SPFL Championship table from Hibs. The fine form they had displayed in consecutive league victories over Hibs away and Cowdenbeath and Hearts at home, though, was nowhere to be seen.

Rangers were disorganised at the back, struggled to assert themselves in midfield and showed a total lack of creativity up front. The opponents capitalised on their disarray in every area of the park and claimed their second triumph in four months at home over their illustrious adversaries.

A Derek Lyle strike, a Lee Wallace own goal and an opportunistic Gavin Reilly effort ensured they ran out comfortable victors and boosted their own promotion hopes. Queens leapfrogged Falkirk - who have played a game more than them - into fourth spot in the second tier table with their record win over Rangers. James Fowler's side, brimming with pace and enthusiasm, will be optimistic they can book a place in the Premiership Play-Offs after this fine display.

In stark contrast, McCall, who had gone five games undefeated after taking over from Kenny McDowall as manager last month, will be deeply concerned. Rangers can still move three points ahead of Hibs, whose manager Alan Stubbs was at the game working for BT Sport as a pundit, as they have played a game less than the capital club.

Can they, though, avoid a repeat of this alarming showing in their five remaining Championship fixtures? Or, for that matter, in the play-off games?

On the last occasion Rangers had travelled down to Dumfries to take on Queen of the South back in December they crashed to a 2-0 defeat that effectively killed off their title aspirations. Yet, it had emerged in the hours before kick-off that Ally McCoist had tendered his resignation as Rangers manager - and was set to remain in charge for the duration of his notice period.

It was, then, far from ideal preparation for one of the most difficult away games on their fixture list. It was little wonder they gave such a poor account of themselves. The Glasgow club took to the field in far better spirits last night having been transformed since McCall arrived as manager. But once again they were woeful.

Lee McCulloch was ruled out after being sent off in the 2-1 win over champions Hearts at Ibrox on Sunday for a foolish challenge on Osman Sow before half-time. It was only the third competitive match the 36-year-old had missed all season and it was an inopportune time for the visitors to lose their captain.

Bilel Mohsni, who had performed well after coming on at the start of the second half at the weekend, replaced McCulloch in the starting line-up. Mohsni slotted into the centre of the Rangers back line alongside Marius Zaliukas as Darren McGregor remained at right back. The Tunisian internationalist, who has been prone to the occasional howler during his time in Scotland, sliced an attempted pass clean out of the park in just the second minute. It was a taste of what was to come from the Rangers rearguard.

The home team did not have to work especially hard for any of their goals. Rangers goalkeeper Cammy Bell, who returned from a long-term shoulder injury last month, dropped out of the squad and that will not have helped his side's cause. The former Kilmarnock player sustained a slight knee injury in training at Murray Park this week and was not risked on the artificial surface. Lee Robinson took his place.

Dean Shiels, meanwhile, dropped to the bench after making four consecutive first team starts and David Templeton was brought in. Templeton had incurred the displeasure of McCall for publicly criticising the coaching of his predecessor as manager - his former Rangers and Scotland team mate - last week. The winger, a general disappointment since singing from Hearts three years ago, will have done nothing to work his way back into his manager's good books. He was anonymous.

Queens took the lead shortly after 33 minutes. Danny Carmichael sprayed the ball to Lewis Kidd wide on the right he advanced to the opposition area and shrugged aside Lee Wallace. Kidd supplied Lyle who, having been given time and space to steady himself inside the Rangers penalty box, hooked a right foot shot into the bottom left corner of goal. Robinson did well to prevent Queens from forging further in front a few minutes later when he held an awkward low shot from the lively Reilly.

Kenny Miller struck the top of the crossbar with an arching header after a Haris Vuckic corner. Lee Wallace also had what appeared to be a strong penalty claim waved away by referee Don Robertson after a challenge by Mark Durnan before half-time.

However, the evening got worse for the left back turned the ball into his own net after just 17 seconds of the second half. The Rangers defence failed to deal with a Reilly ball across the face of their goal and when Kidd cut it back the skipper was helpless to prevent it going through his legs.

Crawford took over from the ineffective Templeton before an hour had been played. He was quickly dispossessed by Holt before the third goal. Holt supplied Reilly and with Robinson cruelly exposed by his defence the Queens man has the simplest of tasks to net and complete the rout.