Scotland striker Stevie Crawford scored twice to put Dunfermline Athletic's challenge for a Uefa Cup place back on the rails.

Pars boss Jimmy Calderwood had praised his side's recent play but pointed out that they had not been gathering points.

But he will have been pleased with the result rather than the performance this time against a West Lothian side who arrived chasing their third successive Scottish Premier League victory.

Crawford took his season's tally to 16 with strikes either side of the break to make it an unhappy return to East End Park for much-loved former Dunfermline boss Jim Leishman.

Stevie Crawford scored both Pars goals

The Livi boss was without defender Phillipe Brinquin after an ankle injury suffered in the win over Motherwell, so Oscar Rubio was restored to the starting line-up.

Calderwood had made two changes, Scott Walker and Gary Mason dropping to the bench, with Jason Dair and Gary Dempsey returning to the starting line-up after the single-goal defeat at Celtic.

Dunfermline seized the initiative early on and the Livingston defence had to be at their tightest as the twin partnership of Crawford and veteran Craig Brewster were always a thorn in their side.

Both sides had their chances, although there was nothing to trouble either goalkeeper and the freezing fans were taken by surprise when with just a minute to go before the break the Pars opened the scoring.

Jason Dair went on a left-wing raid and he set up Crawford nicely in the penalty area.

The striker swivelled and his crisp right-foot shot went beyond Javier Sanchez Broto and in off the post to light up East End Park.

Leishman had to make an unexpected change just after the interval, bringing on David McEwan as substitute goalkeeper for the injured Broto.

Livi goalkeeper Sanchez Broto went off injured

McEwan will want to forget this game after virtually his opening touch gifted Dunfermline what was the killer second goal.

Brewster tried a speculative 25-yard shot after 57 minutes, only for McEwan to spill the ball into the path of the grateful Crawford, who drilled home the rebound.

Crawford was on a roll now and the Livingston defence struggled to contain him.

All Livingston could offer was a weak header over the crossbar by Rolando Zarate.

Crawford ultimately may wonder why he did not leave the park with a hat-trick to cap a marvellous individual performance.

Dunfermline: Stillie, Skerla, Scott Thomson, Scott Wilson, Bullen, Nicholson, Dempsey (Kilgannon 83), Dair, McGroarty (Mason 45), Crawford, Brewster (Walker 70).
Subs Not Used: Ruitenbeek, Hampshire.

Goals: Crawford 45, 57.

Livingston: Broto (McEwan 49), Hart, Rubio, Andrews, Bollan, Quino (Toure-Maman 63), Makel, Bingham, Zarate, Xausa (McMenamin 80), Camacho.
Subs Not Used: Greacen, O'Brien.

Attendance: 5,218

Referee: G Mitchell.