PARS 0 Dundee United 0

TEN-MAN Dunfermline and Dundee United couldn't be separated in the first leg of their Premiership play-off quarter-final tie tonight.

Declan McManus struck the bar in a first half of few chances for the home side before Lee Ashcroft was controversially sent off for a foul on Scott McDonald 10 minutes after the interval.

The incident saw the forward go to ground under a bit of pressure from the centre back but, with there appearing to be covering players, it looked a very harsh call.

Boss Allan Johnston confirmed that they will appeal the decision in the hope of having it overturned ahead of the trip to Tannadice.

But despite having much of the ball after that, the visitors couldn't take advantage and the Pars will travel to Tayside on Friday night firmly in with a chance of progressing to the semi-finals.

But the night was also marred by injuries to Ryan Williamson and Andy Ryan, who must both surely be doubtful for the second leg.

Unsurprisingly, the home side named an unchanged starting line-up from the team that thumped Dumbarton to seal fourth place on Saturday.

Their only alteration came on the bench, with Conner Duthie stepping in for Dean Shiels, while United made two changes to their side that defeated Livingston; Craig Slater and Sam Stanton dropped to the bench, with Willo Flood and Thomas Mikkelsen coming in.

Former Par Paul McMullan was named among the substitutes for Csaba Laszlo's team, who went into the game unbeaten against Dunfermline in 13 previous matches.

The Pars, however, were unbeaten in their last 10 - winning seven of them - and could take heart from their last two matches with the Tangerines, even though both were ultimately drawn.

In a scrappy start, James Craigen almost got on a wicked Fraser Aird cross early on before Ryan couldn't generate power in a volley from distance after he latched on to a loose ball.

The home side were enjoying some decent spells and almost had an opportunity when Nicky Clark dispossessed Bilel Mohsni before working the ball left to Aird.

He darted in between two United men and into the box but his cross was well cut-out, and the opportunity was gone.

There was blow for the Pars in the 25th minute when Ryan went down injured and was forced off in place of McManus.

He almost had the chance to make an immediate impact when Clark did well to win the ball on the left and cross looking for his team-mate six yards out.

McManus went over looking for a penalty, which Bobby Madden said no to, and again keeper Deniz Mehmet was not called into action.

There was a sighter for United on the half hour mark when they kept the ball alive from Scott Fraser's free-kick, but Grant Gillespie's strike from the edge of the area ended up in the Norrie McCathie Stand.

Good play by McManus to spin Mohsni brought Dunfermline a free-kick at the edge of the area that Aird took with his left foot, but over the top it went as the clock ticked towards half-time.

But, with six minutes until the break, the home side were inches away from the opener.

Great ball winning by Ashcroft saw him find Kallum Higginbotham, who did well to sweep it left for Aird.

His cross found the head of McManus, who was desperately unlucky to see his header bounce back off the bar.

James Vincent then volleyed over but, right on the interval, a Fraser shot from Thomas Mikkelsen's cutback was deflected wide with United appealing for handball, but the Pars survived the danger.

Within minutes of the restart, however, Athletic had a great chance to take the lead.

An Aird set-piece from the left was headed out by the visiting defence to Higginbotham on the right, whose cross found Clark in the middle of the goal, but he couldn't find the power as Mehmet gathered his header comfortably.

Canada international Aird was having a big influence and he went close again in the 53rd minute.

A good break led by Higginbotham saw him find Williamson to his right, who cut inside before picking out Aird at the edge of the box, whose curler was pushed over well by Mehmet.

But, 10 minutes into the second half, the game's controversial moment arrived.

McDonald went to ground under a challenge from Ashcroft but, despite it looking like there were Pars players covering, Madden showed him a red card.

The home side were seething at the decision and Fraser almost rubbed salt in the wound when he flashed a shot narrowly wide.

Moments later, Lee Robinson produced a stunning save to deny Thomas Mikkelsen after fine play by Fraser picked him out 12 yards from goal, before the Pars almost took the lead themselves.

A brilliant Aird set-piece again found Clark, whose header was superbly pushed away by the flying reflexes of Mehmet.

Higginbotham was sacrificed for Jason Talbot as Dunfermline retained a back four, with McManus moving wide right to leave Clark up front on his own.

Lewis Martin did well to bundle the ball behind when Billy King clipped the ball over the advancing Robinson as United attempt to ramp up the pressure, but the home side were battling hard to protect their goal.

Mohsni had a snap shot saved by Robinson before Dunfermline's luck went from bad to worse with an injury to Williamson, who went down under a heavy challenge.

He was taken off with two minutes to go but, despite four minutes of stoppage time, they held out to head to Tannadice with the tie firmly in the balance.

Pars: Robinson, Williamson, Ashcroft, Morris, Martin, Higginbotham, Craigen, Vincent, Aird, Ryan, Clark.

Subs: Duthie, Cardle, Armstrong, Wedderburn, Talbot, McManus, Gill.

Dundee United: Mehmet, Murdoch, McDonald, Mikkelsen, Fraser, King, Flood, Robson, Gillespie, Ralston, Mohsni.

Subs: Scobbie, McMullan, Stanton, Edjenguele, Slater, Lyng, Lewis.

Referee: Bobby Madden.