THE Pars saw their three-game winning run brought to an end but picked up their first point this season against Dundee United after an East End stalemate this afternoon.

In what was, at times, a feisty encounter with chances at both ends - particularly in the second half - the home side came agonsingly close to a winner in stoppage time when Declan McManus smashed the outside of the post.

The Athletic hitman was thwarted on several occasions, including through an excellent Harry Lewis save, but United had their moments.

Paul McMullan was twice denied well by Lee Robinson but Emil Lyng went closest for Csaba Laszlo's side, heading over a Willo Flood cross from six yards when he looked set to score.

But, while it's another point in Dunfermline's play-off bid, this scoreline will be most cheered by St Mirren, who extended their advantage at the top with a win at Dumbarton.

Allan Johnston was forced into one change from the team that had beaten the Sons last Saturday and Falkirk on January 2.

With an illness bug hitting the squad, Lee Ashcroft missed out to be replaced by Callum Morris, while Callum Smith was also noticeably absent from the bench, which had a place for youngster Brandon Luke.

Ex-Pars loanee McMullan started for a Dundee United team missing midfielders Fraser Fyvie and Scott Fraser, who both found the net against Athletic in previous clashes this season.

A 3-1 defeat at East End in September, followed by a 2-1 reverse at Tannadice in December, came as part of an eight-game run of games between the clubs without a solitary success for Dunfermline.

But the hosts made a promising start, winning the ball almost immediately from United's kick-off, with McManus advancing to the edge of the box before firing over.

Their passing was crisp and confident in the very early stages and McManus was again a threat in the eighth minute, cutting into the area from the left and shooting for goal, but Mark Durnan was there to get his head to it.

McMullan had United's first sighter soon afterwards, picking the ball up on the right after a nice move that saw Lyng find him and skipping by Jason Talbot, but Lee Robinson held well.

Nicky Clark then shot wide for Dunfermline after a nice lay-off from McManus while there was a slight moment of concern for the visitors when Joe Cardle's cross was headed away from the advancing Harry Lewis by team-mate Tam Scobbie, but they managed to clear the danger.

Ryan Williamson was cautioned just before the half hour for a pull on Lyng, and Craig Slater sent the free-kick wide of Robinson's near post.

Moments later though, Lyng found himself clear and into the Pars area but delayed his shot, allowing the home side to recover with a vital defensive block.

Dunfermline then had a golden chance to create an opportunity on the break when Michael Paton won the ball on the right, advanced into visiting territory and played it infield to Cardle, but his pass for McManus on the left didn't have the pace to find its intended target.

That was a recurring theme throughout the opening period from both teams as they found themselves in decent positions to mount an attack, but too many passes were loose or went astray.

The Pars though ended the last few moments of the half strongly and Cardle, after some good pressure in and around the box, was blocked out by good defending with instinctive chest control and a shot.

But the hosts kept the pressure on and worked the ball wide for Williamson, who left Jamie Robson for dead before delivering a ball that Clark was, perhaps, not expecting as it landed at his feet. He couldn't adjust to get the shot off and the opportunity was lost.

Five minutes after the restart, there were near things at both ends.

Billy King was allowed to run from deep cross-field to pass to McMullan, who ran at Talbot and crossed low to the front post.

Morris got a block in but the ball fell to Willo Flood, who was unlucky to see his driven shot flash wide of the far post.

At the other end, a Cardle lob was latched onto by Clark as he just beat the outrushing Harry Lewis to the ball, but his touch took him wide of goal. His cross to the back post was then cleared well.

In the 58th minute, McManus sent Paton clear on the right to cross and, after Lewis came flapping, the ball fell to Cardle but his effort was blocked by a determined Tangerine rearguard.

The keeper almost gifted Dunfermline the opener moments later when a poor kick-out from a backpass, under pressure from Clark, fell to McManus.

He played it to Paton who, after cutting inside, flashed the ball narrowly off-target.

Almost immediately after, an even bigger chance fell the home team's way when the ball was knocked through for McManus and, after running into the box under the attentions of Scobbie, got a shot away that squirmed under Lewis but didn't have enough power to hit the net as United cleared.

The home fans howled for a penalty as the striker went down in the aftermath but, to be fair to referee Bobby Madden, there was no great appeal from the Pars man.

Nat Wedderburn then tried his luck as Dunfermline continued to keep the pressure up and, with little more than 20 minutes to play, Johnston was first to play his hand from the bench as Fraser Aird was sent on for Cardle.

The substitute was soon involved, sending a free-kick swinging in for Morris to attack, but his header sailed over.

No sooner had United been defending, they were going close at the other end as a fine ball through for McMullan saw the winger blocked at the near post by Robinson.

But, arguably, the game's best chance until that point arrived with 13 minutes left and it was a let-off for the Pars.

United worked the ball well across the park to Slater, who laid it forward to the willing run of Flood.

His cross from the right was perfect for Lyng, who should have done better than head over from six yards in the centre of the goal.

That said, Dunfermline had a brilliant opportunity of their own with eight minutes to go and Paton was the architect.

He delivered a peach of a cross from the right that was perfect for McManus, who did everything right but saw his header brilliantly pushed over by Lewis.

There was a heart-stopping moment soon after when Robson's wicked centre was sliced over his own bar by Jean-Yves M'Voto before Andy Ryan and Kallum Higginbotham were sent on for Clark and Paton.

The latter sub released Williamson who, in spite of other options, centred for McManus but he couldn't generate enough power in his header.

And, right at the death, Dunfermline almost snatched it with McManus once more desperately unlucky.

They worked the ball well to the left and Aird, who played it inside for the striker to take one touch away from his marker before lashing a shot off the outside of the post.

Pars: Robinson, Williamson, Morris, M'Voto, Talbot, Paton, Wedderburn, Shiels, Cardle, McManus, Clark.

Subs: Martin, Luke, Aird, Higginbotham, Ryan, Gill.

Dundee United: Lewis, Scobbie, Durnan, McMullan, McDonald, King, Stanton, Slater, Flood, Robson, Lyng.

Subs: Quinn, Allardice, Ballantyne, Smith, Chalmers, Appere, Mehmet.

Referee: Bobby Madden.

Attendance: 7,139.