The Yorkshireman's 20-yard drive gave the visitors a dream start but Paul McLean's second half leveller extended City's league unbeaten run to a club-record 16 games.

John Potter again rang the changes after Saturday's defeat at Stranraer, with Ross Millen, Jim Paterson, Josh Falkingham, Lewis Spence and Michael Moffat all restored to the starting line-up.

If the Pars boss was looking for a response to the Stair Park disaster, he got it after just 34 seconds as the visitors took the lead.

Good play from Lewis Allan on the left saw the on-loan Hibee cut back onto his right foot and crossed for Falkingham to fire low into the net from the edge of the box.

Brechin responded and Lewis Martin was fortunate to see a deflection from an attempted Robert Thomson pass bounced off the post, before Colin Hamilton's volley from a City corner forced Scully into a smart save moments later.

Michael Moffat saw a 17th minute header comfortably saved by Graeme Smith but the game in its opening quarter, while not short on intensity, was scrappy and lacked quality play in and around the last third.

The Pars were looking to play the ball forward early utilising the pace and strength provided by their front three and it created a half chance for Moffat as he fired over from the edge of the area after Allan chested Paterson's long pass into his path.

Bobby Barr was causing problems for the visitors defence and having fired an inviting ball across the face of goal, he jinked his way into the box in the 36th minute only for Scully to beat his fierce shot clear.

The tricky City winger then sent a free-kick wide of target from the left edge of the box before Andy Jackson sent a dangerous cross to the far post but once more the hosts had no takers and Dunfermline held firm until the interval.

There was a half chance for the Pars at the start of the second half as Andy Barrowman squared the ball for Moffat, but Paul McLean made a superb block tackle in the six yard box as Moffat looked to pull the trigger.

But a high ball into the box proved Athletic's undoing as they conceded in the 58th minute.

A high free-kick from Barr on the left wasn't cleared and found McLean waiting at the far post to stab home with his right foot from around eight yards.

David Hopkirk replaced Barrowman in 68 minutes to move to the left of Allan and Moffat in an attempt to stem the Brechin tide that had been pinning Athletic back since the goal, leading to a number of corners and a half chance for Jackson that finished up high over the bar.

Gerry McLauchlan sent a header wide of Scully's post from another corner before Millen clipped an inviting ball into the City box looking for Geggan's run, but the midfielder couldn't get on the end of it.

There was another half chance as the game ticked into the final 10 minutes as Moffat broke into the box but was crowded out for a corner, while moments later Falkingham saw a drive towards goal blocked.

But with four minutes left, Brechin were desperately unlucky to hit the woodwork for a second time.

Another excellent Barr delivery was flashed towards goal by Thomson's head and there was relief for the Pars as the ball cannoned off the bar.

A corner in the dying seconds for Brechin was headed off target by McLauchlan and that was the last act as a hard-earned point was won, but may not do much for Dunfermline's promotion hopes.

Pars: Scully, Millen, Paterson, Martin, McAusland, Falkingham, Spence, Geggan, Barrowman, Moffat, Allan.

Subs: O'Kane, Graham, Thomson, Williamson, Hopkirk, Smith, Goodfellow.

Brechin: Smith, McLean, Hamilton, McCormack, McLauchlan, Fusco, Ferguson, Molloy, A.Jackson, Thomson, Barr.

Subs: Trouten, Storie, McNeil, S.Jackson, Durojaiye, Tapping, Tough.

Referee: Greg Aitken.

Attendance: 615.