Frustrated substitute Ryan Conroy was denied a last-gasp winner as Dundee had to settle for a point from their basement battle at Palmerston Park.
Conroy was convinced his angled volley deep in stoppage time was heading for the top corner until Queens keeper Lee Robinson produced a stunning save to turn the ball round and earn his side a share of the points.
Remarkably, referee Mike Tumilty and his stand-side assistant awarded a goal kick, instead of a corner.
Conroy, who was on loan at Queens for the first part of last season, said: ”It was going in at the back post and he made a great save. It should have been a corner. Lee admitted to me he got a hand to it.
”When I hit it I said to myself ‘that’s going in’ and was ready to spin away to celebrate but the keeper has pulled off an unbelievable save.
”It would have been my first goal of the season and would have been a good time to get it, but it wasn’t to be. Lee’s a friend of mine and a great keeper and he showed at the end how good he is.”
Dundee boss Barry Smith fielded the same starting 11 as lost to Hamilton and they created the first chance after 15 minutes.
Craig McKeown sent a long ball out of defence which Jamie McCluskey controlled first time but his angled 16-yard drive was well held by Robinson, diving full length to his right.
The Dark Blues threatened again when Nicky Riley created space for himself on the left, cut on to his right foot and rifled in a low 20-yard shot which Robinson got down to brilliantly push around a post.
Dundee skipper Stephen O’Donnell was unfortunate to be yellow carded in 34 minutes for a poorly timed tackle on Queens livewire Danny Carmichael.
Queens had to wait until the 35th minute for their first genuine attack when a Carmichael snap shot from 29 yards flew just over Rab Douglas’s crossbar.
Dundee, who have only lost once to Queens in their last seven league clashes, were back on the offensive in 40 minutes when Gary Irvine met a Kyle Benedictus cross with an overhead kick which flew wide.
Dundee had a let-off just before the break when a quickly taken free-kick allowed Nicky Clark to run on and lob the ball over Douglas but the ball sailed just over.
The Dark Blues were just as positive at the start of the second half with Riley leading the charge on goal. He had a terrific effort from 20 yards in 49 minutes which flew just wide.
In a bid to turn in his side’s fortunes Smith rang the changes in 63 minutes with a double switch, Graham Bayne and Conroy coming on for Ross Chisholm and McCluskey.
Queens threatened late on through Carmichael and Stephen McKenna before the drama of Conroy’s injury-time effort.
Dens boss Smith said: ”One thing we can take away is a clean sheet. We had been conceding goals, so to come down to a difficult place like Palmerston and keep a clean sheet was important for us.
”It is a point gained and to take something was important, although we would have rather won the game. Both teams cancelled each other out. We’ve played a lot better and lost.”
The draw lifts Dundee off the bottom of the table and they are still only six points behind leaders Morton.
”All the teams are quite similar in squads so it is going to be a tight league all season,” added Smith.