A double from Faissal El Bakhtaoui and strikes from Michael Moffat, Joe Cardle, Ryan Wallace and Josh Falkingham sealed an emphatic victory that in no way flattered the visitors.

Allan Johnston's free-scoring team, who have now netted 15 goals in three matches, simply had too much quality for the Angus side and on this evidence will take a lot of stopping in their hunt for the title.

The Pars had been beaten 3-0 on their last visit to Brechin in April but a repeat result never looked likely, especially when Dunfermline took the lead after only eight minutes.

Talismanic figure El Bakhtaoui, who had hit four in his previous two outings, was at it again as he reacted quickest to tap home the rebound after City goalkeeper Graeme Smith had parried his initial effort.

That set the tone for the opening half in which Athletic found themselves four goals up at the break after overpowering Darren Dods' shell-shocked side.

Moffat made it two in 23 minutes when he reacted to head beyond Smith from close range after Ross Perry had failed to clear Cardle's cross, and the winger scored his first goal since rejoining the club eight minutes later with a stinging 20-yarder that arrowed past Smith and into the top corner.

El Bakhtaoui added number four a minute before the break as he found space between two Brechin defenders to head home from Michael Paton's accurate delivery but despite carving out further chances, it took Dunfermline until the 80th minute to score again.

Wallace, on as a substitute, made it three goals in as many games as he latched on to Cardle's pass and drilled an excellent low shot into the far corner of the net before Brechin pulled one back through David Weatherston.

But it was the Pars who had the final say in the final minute as a lovely step over from Wallace released Falkingham, and the midfielder's clever finish from the edge of the box deceived Smith and completed a fine afternoon's work for the title favourites.

Pars: Murdoch, Williamson, Martin, Fordyce (Talbot 45), Richards-Everton, Geggan, Paton, Byrne (Wallace 60), Moffat, El Bakhtaoui (Falkingham 69), Cardle.

Subs not used: Hopkirk, Spence, Potter, Hutton.

Goals: El Bakhtaoui (8, 44), Moffat (23), Cardle (31), Wallace (80), Falkingham (90).