James O'Brien and Buddies' Ian Maxwell challenge at East End Park

Jim Hamilton and Stevie Crawford both went close as the Pars edged a nervy first 45 minutes at East End Park.

Buddies keeper Chris Smith denied the Pars strike duo with a fine double save after the break and brilliantly stopped a deflected Stephen Glass free-kick.

Dorus De Vries denied Kirk Broadfoot at the other end to keep the scores level.

Interview: Dunfermline manager Stephen Kenny

Interview: St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson

But it was a result that suited St Mirren better as it leaves Dunfermline nine points adrift at the bottom of the Scottish Premier League.

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson had realised that by leaving Stewart Kean as the lone striker in the knowledge that a draw would

MacPherson made two changes, with midfielder Garry Brady and striker John Sutton dropping to the bench and David van Zanten and Hugh Murray returning.

Stevie Crawford had recovered from injury to start up front for Dunfermline, while Greg Ross, James O'Brien and Gary Mason also returned to the starting line-up.

Darren Young failed a late fitness and missed out along with Scott Morrison, Jamie McCunnie and Owen Morrison after last week's defeat by Celtic.

And the new-look Dunfermline looked slightly the better side in an opening period when neither side were able to create clear-cut chances.

The home side were given cause for concern when defender Phil McGuire required treatment for a head injury sustained in an innocuous tangle with Kean but returned after about four minutes off the field.

Richard Brittain and Gary Mason battled it out in midfield

Dunfermline striker Hamilton ended a fine, five-man move by firing just over the bar after being afforded time on the edge of the box.

The best chance of the first half then fell to Crawford in the 36th minute as he connected with Greg Ross's cross, but the header bounced just past the post from six yards.

Kean was first to threaten after the break, heading wide from six yards following a Richard Brittain free-kick.

Adam Hammill drove wide from 20 yards at the other end, while Stephen O'Donnell fired past from even further out for St Mirren.

But it was Dunfermline who began to pile on the pressure and denied three quick chances.

An O'Brien cross found Hamilton, whose shot was blocked by Smith, the goalkeeper denied Crawford on the rebound and Hammill blasted over.

St Mirren took heart and De Vries pulled off a superb, one-handed save to deny Broadfoot and Brittain fired just wide from long range.

Smith was again to the rescue, turning a deflected free-kick from Glass wide with an excellent save.

Dunfermline: De Vries, Ross (Owen Morrison 76), Wilson, McGuire, Glass, O'Brien, Mason, Simmons, Hammill, Hamilton (McIntyre 66), Crawford (Burchill 66).
Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Bamba, McCunnie, Muirhead.

Booked: Wilson, Hammill, Hamilton, McGuire, Mason.

St Mirren: Smith, van Zanten, Maxwell, Potter, Broadfoot, Reid, Brittain, Murray, Lawson (Molloy 88), Kean (Sutton 90), O'Donnell (Corcoran 60).
Subs Not Used: Brady, Millen, Malone, McKenna.

Booked: van Zanten, Broadfoot, Brittain, Potter.

Att: 7,149

Ref: C Richmond