Queen of the South were knocked off the top of the First Division after they were beaten by Dunfermline and Dundee tasted victory at Ross County.
David Weatherston scored for Queens from close range in the 15th minute after great work by McLaren.
But the Pars retaliated in the 24th minute when a corner from former Queens favourite William Gibson was eventually netted by Neil McGregor.
Then Marc McAusland brought down Steven McDougall in the box and Gibson beat keeper David Hutton from the spot.
Weatherston had a great chance to equalise but shot past and Queens were rather unlucky to be a goal down at the interval.
Queens dominated the second half and seemed to have equalised but the referee chaulked it off after everyone thought he had awarded a penalty for a foul on Burns.
The Pars held out for a narrow victory against a luckless Queens whose performance was a vast improvement from the debacle at Airdrie last Saturday.
However this loss means that they are knockled off their top spot by Dundee and victory against Inverness on Saturday is a must for the Doonhamers.
Queens Mad Man of the Match - David Lilley - Back to his best.