Dunfermline Ath 2-1 Dundee Utd

Leishman hails 'magnificent' win Players let down club - Chisholm

Dunfermline Athletic battled from behind to record a deserved victory over Dundee United - their first in the Scottish Premier League this season.

Derek Young missed a glorious early chance for the Pars before David McCracken headed United into the lead.

But Tod headed home a Lee Makel corner after the break to equalise.

And Greg Ross, who had only started because Darren Young pulled up in the warm-up, fired in the winner from 12 yards for Jim Leishman's side.

Tod had himself only started the game because of injury to captain Scott Thomson.

But the under-strength home side should have taken the lead in the fifth minute.

Bartosz Tarachulski flicked the ball to Derek Young and the striker who scored three in midweek volleyed over from six yards out.

United had been boosted by the return of captain Derek McInnes, making his first start of the season, while fellow midfielder Mark Kerr returned after a family bereavement.

David Fernandez had the ball in the Dunfermline net, but referee Stuart Dougal ruled that Lee Miller had fouled Pars goalkeeper Allan McGregor in the build up.

The Pars were slightly slicker in their passing and moving in a largely scrappy game.

But they were lucky to survive when McGregor flapped at a Barry Robson cross but no United player was there to take advantage.

Fernandez bustled his way through the Fife defence before firing his angled shot from close range over the bar.

McGregor pulled off a fine save from a Robson drive from distance and Pars defender Yannick Zambernardi prevented the waiting Miller getting to the rebound.

But United took the lead when Robson curled a free-kick to the back post and McCracken rose above Scott Wilson to head past the flailing McGregor from only six yards out.

Only a tremendous point-blank save from McGregor prevented Miller doubling the visitors' lead shortly after the break following another excellent in-swinging Robson free-kick.

Dunfermline upped the tempo and wide-man Liam Horsted drove an angled shot from 16 yards just past the far post.

Tod gave Dunfermline a deserved equaliser after 60 minutes.

Midfielder Lee Makel whipped a corner from the left into a packed six-yard box and Tod rose among the crowd to bullet his header in from close range.

It was their first home goal since being forced by the SPL to rip up their artificial pitch and replace it with grass.

The winner came when substitute Noel Hunt cut the ball back to Ross and the teenager fired first time past former.

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Dunfermline: McGregor, Scott Wilson, Labonte, Tod, Zambernardi, McCunnie, Makel, Horsted (Craig Wilson 77), Ross, Tarachulski, Derek Young (Hunt 67).
Subs Not Used: Halliwell, Campbell, Muir, Calum Smith.

Booked: McGregor.

Goals: Tod 60, Ross 75.

Dundee Utd: Stillie, Wilson (Samuel 78), McCracken, Ritchie, Archibald, McInnes (Canero 61), Brebner, Kerr, Robson, Miller, Fernandez.
Subs Not Used: McIntyre, Duff, Kenneth, McLean, Robertson.

Booked: Archibald, McCracken.

Goal: McCracken 41.

Att: 5,361

Ref: Stuart Dougal