St Mirren 1 Dunfermline Athletic 0

There wasn’t any festive cheer for Dunfermline Athletic as they extended their run of games without a win to seven.

The travelling support had hoped for an early Christmas gift of some points to bring back from the Paisley 2021 Stadium but Santa and Alan Johnston's men failed to deliver.

It did look like the Pars could grab a point when referee Craig Charleston appeared to have given a penalty however Kallum Higginbotham had to take the ball back off the spot when the man in the middle consulted his assistant and changed his mind.

Dunfermline had made two changes from the side which was thumped 5-2 against Queen of the South last week.

Kallum Higginbotham and Dean Shiels come in with Lewis Martin and Michael Paton starting on the bench.

The game started brightly with chances for both teams.

After only five minutes, it was the Pars that were on the attack when Ryan Williamson found himself with the ball and his mazy run went through the St Mirren defence however his effort eventually went out for a corner.

Things looked like they were about to take a grim turn three minutes later when Murdoch rushed out to stop Gavin Reilly and appeared to handle the ball outside the box.

After consulting with his assistant, referee Charleston issued Murdoch a yellow card and Athletic fans were able to breathe again.

The resulting free kick was hit over by St Mirren midfielder Ian McShane.

On the 20 minute mark, Higginbotham went on the attack and hit a low shot from just outside the box however it was collected easily by the St Mirren keeper Craig Samson.

The action was at the other end of the pitch three minutes later when a St Mirren free kick was floated into Reilly again but Murdoch reacted quickly and pushed the ball away to safety.

Dunfermline found themselves a goal behind after 37 minutes defence when Cameron Smith collcted the ball in the box and turned and shot past Murdoch.

Pars continued to try and find their way onto the score sheet and had a chance when they were given a free kick after McManus had been obstructed.

Higginbotham swung in a clever ball which McManus got his head to however his attempt flashed just wide of the post.

Former Par Reilly should have doubled his side’s lead just before the half time whistle when he found himself through on goal but his lob went over.

St Mirren came out firing on all cylinders at the beginning of the second half. Baird rose for a cross on 49 minutes but he saw his effort go wide.

On the 64 minute mark, Athletic's fortunes appeared to have changed for the better when Ryan Williamson went down in the box after a challenge by Eckersley.

The referee blew for the penalty and Higginbotham had placed the ball on the penalty spot before the assistant referee was called on for his opinion. The result was a free kick to the Saints and a yellow card for diving for the Pars defender.

Dunfermline appeared to come out a little stronger after the decision and Higginbotham swung in a cross just before the 70th minute which Clark got his head to but the ball was scrambled away for a corner.

Cardle crossed in a few minutes later to Ashcroft but no Pars player could get on the end of the ball to finish it off.

Alan Johnston decided to change things for the last ten minutes, bringing Cardle and Higginbotham off and introducing Michael Paton and Fraser Aird into the action.

Paton nearly made an immediate impact when he floated in a free kick but Nicky Clark’s header went straight to keeper Samson.

Right at the death, Fraser Aird had a chance for glory when he found himself with the ball but he fluffed his shot over the bar.

St Mirren Samson, McGinn, Magennis, Morgan, Smith (Macpherson 86), Baird, McShane, Reilly (Mullen 75), Davis, Smith, Eckersley.

Subs: Stewart, Buchanan, Mackenzie, Sutton, Kirkpatrick.

Goal: Smith (37) 

Dunfermline Murdoch, Williamson, Talbot, Morris, Ashcroft, Higginbotham (Aird 83), Shiels, Wedderburn, Cardle (Paton 83), McManus, Clark.

Subs: Gill, Martin, Mvoto, Ryan, Smith,

Bookings: Murdoch, Morris, Cardle, McManus, Williamson

Referee: Craig Charleston

Attendance: 3665