Dunfermline 2 Falkirk 0

It was New Year delight for Dunfermline as they gave the Bairns a boot up the bells with a well deserved victory at East End Park.

Allan Johnston's men bossed the match and goals in each half from Nicky Clark and Declan McManus gave them the win while goalkeeper Lee Robinson, in for the injured Sean Murdoch, had a fine debut.

Neither side had been in good form coming into this clash, Falkirk with two wins from their last 10 and Dunfermline scoring a single victory from their previous eight matches.

Both had triumphed in their last outing, although the Pars home win over Brechin was achieved amidst what the boss called a "hostile" atmosphere.

The East End faithful haven't been happy with the recent slump but the visit of their hated rivals, and the first since Kevin O'Hara and Joe McKee were both banned for taunting Dean Shiels about the loss of his eye, was always going to rally them to the cause.

Neither Falkirk player was available to play, which took a little of the heat out of the fray, but the away support roundly booed the announcement of Shiels name as if he was somehow to blame for being abused.

The fixture has also seen five red cards in the three meetings this season so there was a real tribal roar as both sides readied for combat and the match kicked off.

It was out with the old and in with the new as Dunfermline gave a debut to Robinson, the former Queen of the South goalkeeper, who signed yesterday with Murdoch out through injury.

The home side were almost in front before he'd touched the ball, with skipper Clark latching onto a loose ball at the edge of the box and his shot, with the outside of his foot, skidding just wide.

Shiels then sent in a free kick from deep and Jean Yves M'Voto met it with a firm header that Robbie Mutch pushed round the post.

A mistake in the Bairns rearguard in the 10th minute gave Dunfermline an opportunity but instead of squaring it to Clark, McManus went for goal from a tight angle and Mutch got two gloves to the ball to direct it for a corner.

Lee Ashcroft's header drifted off target from Shiels' delivery and Dunfermline were well on top, with a fierce strike from Clark blocked as they continued to threaten.

The pressure paid off in the 16th minute and it was a bad mistake from the Bairns goalie.

McManus drove forward from midfield and slipped a ball in behind the Falkirk defence, Clark hit it on the run and Mutch allowed the low shot to squirm out of his grasp and roll in off the post.

It was all Athletic and Jason Talbot swung in a fine cross that Clark met but couldn't put his header on target.

Falkirk worked their way back into it and Robinson pulled off a fine save, his strong right hand stopping Bairns skipper Aaron Muirhead finding the bottom corner with a drive from 20 yards in the 38th minute.

Pars were forced back but were dangerous on the break and a delightful pass from Michael Paton saw the ball drop for Joe Cardle to set up Clark but he couldn't keep his shot down.

The Bairns could have levelled on 45 minutes when Jordan McGhee threaded a fine pass in behind the Dunfermline back four, leaving Andy Nelson with just the keeper to beat.

He tried to guide it into the corner but Robinson's fingertips sent the ball bouncing past the post and out for a corner. Next goal was going to be all important and the Pars grabbed it in the 51st minute.

Cardle's mazy run looked to be taking him past every Falkirk defender but eventually he was stopped as he tried to create an opening for a shot or killer pass.

Talbot picked up the loose ball and lifted it into the box where McManus stuck out a boot to guide it into the bottom corner with a deft touch. The Bairns came close on the hour when Reghan Tumilty's drive was brilliantly saved by Robinson's strong left hand.

The play swung to the other end and Clark sent an acrobatic volley high over the bar after Ryan Williamson's cross fell a little behind the striker.

Pars had to hang on towards the end, Robinson made another top save with his legs when Sean Welsh pulled the trigger in the 80th minute and Tumilty hit the post with a late volley, but they got over the line.