Dundee Utd1–2Dunfermline

Following the win at Aberdeen, manager Alex Smith elected to name the same starting eleven for the visit of Dunfermline. Eighteen year old Stephen O'Donnell was handed a place on the bench at the expense of Arnar Gunnlaughsson, following good form in the Under-21 ranks.

United had the first chance with a tame long range effort from Mark Wilson, but it was the Pars who opened the scoring after just six minutes. The former United Scottish Cup hero Craig Brewster flicked the ball into the path of Gary Dempsey who rifled a wicked swerving left foot shot into Paul Gallacher’s top right hand corner from fully 25 yards. A Derek Lilley header followed minutes later but went wide, as Dunfermline maintained control of the game. Things went from bad to worse just after the quarter hour when a defensive miscommunication between Jim Lauchlan and Kevin McGowne allowed Stevie Crawford to gleefully sneak in and slot the ball home from ten yards for the visitors' second. Defending for the remainder of the first half, United squandered a couple of chances on the counter, with Lilley missing the best of them with a header from twelve yards.

Having regrouped at half time, United emerged to pull a goal back on the 50 minute mark through Derek Lilley, with the striker finding space before slotting past Marco Ruitenbeek from twelve yards. Looking an altogether better side in the second half, United nearly equalized on the hour when Steven Thompson latched on to a Charlie Miller through ball to chip the ball across goal, however the effort was blocked on the line by Lee Bullen. As United chased a leveller, the Pars continued in their attempts to kill the game off, but it was substitute Jim Paterson for the Terrors who was next to try a shot at goal, forcing a save from Ruitenbeek with 15 minutes left. Ruitenbeek was up to the challenge of Paterson again moments later, blocking a shot with his legs. Bringing on Jim McIntyre, Alex Smith pushed United forward, and soon after Thompson crossed for Lauchlan who powered a header directly at Ruitenbeek, but the Dutchman got an all important hand to the ball to make a point blank save. Late on, a scramble in the Dunfermline box was eventually saved by Bullen who cleared the danger as the East End Park men held on to record the win.