Jim Jefferies failed to magic up Dunfermline's first home win of the season but moved them a closer to second-bottom Hibernian after a draw.

The new Pars manager would have been unhappy with a punchless first half during which Steven Thomson headed St Mirren ahead on 38 minutes.

He had them fired up after the break and Joe Cardle bundled in the equaliser a minute after the restart.

Both sides had their chances thereafter but failed to capitalise.

With Hibernian losing at home to Dundee United, the point moves the Pars to within three of the Edinburgh side and leaves the Buddies without a win in 11 games.

Thomson (right) opened the scoring at East End Park

Thomson (right) opened the scoring at East End Park

Jefferies had adopted an attacking line-up despite starting with midfielder Martin Hardie as his sole striker, with anchor man Mark Kerr replacing Ryan Thomson in midfield, allowing David Graham to add support up front along with Liam Buchanan and Joe Cardle on the wings.

The Buddies also had a more attack-minded formation, with Hugh Murray and Steven Thomson dropping out of midfield for Dougie Imrie and Paul McGowan, who were cup-tied and suspended respectively for the Scottish Cup quarter-final replay defeat by Hearts.

It took 15 minutes for either side to seriously threaten a goal, with Nigel Hasselbaink failing with an ambitious hitch-kick that could have been destined for an open goal and Lee Mair lashed well over the crossbar with the follow-up.

There was little but industry coming from Dunfermline and it was the Buddies who had the invention to move ahead, although partly thanks to slack marking from the hosts.

Gary Teale's corner found Thompson at the near post and the striker's head-flick crept in at the far stick despite Gary Mason's attempt to clear off the line.

Dunfermline sprang to life after the break, Jefferies' voice probably ringing in their ears, and equalised almost immediately.

St Mirren were undone in midweek when a premature referee's whistle denied Hasselbaink a goal against Hearts and this time they were the victims of Alan Muir's decision to play advantage.

As the Pars fans claimed for a penalty for Mair's challenge on Buchanan, Cardle bundled the ball home.

Mason's cross had created the danger and the midfielder, within seconds, came close to scoring the second himself, with his powerful drive being cleared off the line by Graham Carey.

Goalkeeper Craig Samson turned a Cardle effort wide, but the Buddies weathered the storm and Hasselbaink headed just over after they applied some pressure of their own.

McGowan dragged a shot wide as St Mirren came close to stealing the three points before surviving a couple of late corners as desperate Dunfermline pressed for a late winner.

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (4)

Dunfermline

  • 20 Smith
  • 03 McCann Booked
  • 06 Keddie Booked
  • 15 Dowie Booked
  • 26 McMillan
  • 02 Kerr Booked (McDougall - 84' )
  • 04 Mason
  • 07 Cardle
  • 08 Hardie Booked
  • 11 Graham (Hutton - 74' )
  • 19 Buchanan (Kirk - 69' )

Substitutes

  • 30 Goodfellow
  • 13 Boyle
  • 39 Young
  • 22 Willis
  • 24 Hutton
  • 10 Kirk
  • 12 McDougall

St Mirren

  • 01 Samson
  • 02 van Zanten
  • 05 Mair
  • 14 McAusland
  • 06 Goodwin Booked
  • 21 Teale (Thomson - 63' )
  • 23 Carey
  • 27 Imrie
  • 09 Thompson
  • 10 McGowan
  • 11 Hasselbaink

Substitutes

  • 12 Smith
  • 04 McGregor
  • 37 Naismith
  • 07 Murray
  • 08 Thomson
  • 15 Mooy
  • 39 Reilly
Ref: Muir
Att: 3,753

Match Stats

Shots

8 11

On target

5 3

Corners

8 7

Fouls

26 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:00 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +2:25

Foul by Joe Cardle on Douglas Imrie, free kick awarded. Craig Samson restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +1:53

Joe Cardle takes the inswinging corner, Alex Keddie takes a shot. Blocked by Lee Mair.

90:00 +1:22

Free kick awarded for a foul by Steven Thomson on Joe Cardle. Andy Dowie takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +0:49

Shot from inside the six-yard box by Paul McGowan goes wide right of the target.

89:52

Andy Kirk concedes a free kick for a foul on Marc McAusland. Jim Goodwin takes the direct free kick.

87:32

The referee blows for offside against Nigel Hasselbaink. Free kick taken by Chris Smith.

86:11

Unfair challenge on Jordan McMillan by Douglas Imrie results in a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Joe Cardle, clearance made by Lee Mair.

84:32

Strike comes in from Graham Carey from the free kick.

84:32 Booking

Booking Andy Dowie goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

84:23

Nigel Hasselbaink fouled by Andy Dowie, the ref awards a free kick.

83:01 Substitution

Substitution Mark Kerr goes off and Steven McDougall comes on.

82:31

The referee blows for offside. Chris Smith takes the indirect free kick.

81:36

Craig Samson restarts play with the free kick.

81:36 Booking

Booking Martin Hardie goes into the book.

81:35

Martin Hardie concedes a free kick for a foul on Jim Goodwin.

81:05

Steven Thompson is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Chris Smith.

80:20

Paul McGowan takes a shot. Blocked by Andy Kirk.

79:12

Douglas Imrie takes the inswinging corner, Header by Marc McAusland from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

77:45

Jim Goodwin delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing.

77:45 Booking

Booking Mark Kerr booked.

77:36

Mark Kerr concedes a free kick for a foul on Douglas Imrie.

74:15

Corner taken by Graham Carey from the right by-line, save by Chris Smith.

73:14 Substitution

Substitution Kyle Hutton joins the action as a substitute, replacing David Graham.

71:07

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Graham Carey, Andy Dowie makes a clearance.

69:57

Corner taken by Graham Carey, A cross is delivered by Paul McGowan, Alex Keddie makes a clearance.

68:48 Substitution

Substitution Andy Kirk joins the action as a substitute, replacing Liam Buchanan.

67:59

Martin Hardie challenges Jim Goodwin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Marc McAusland.

67:24

Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Nigel Hasselbaink goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

66:25

Martin Hardie challenges David van Zanten unfairly and gives away a free kick. David van Zanten restarts play with the free kick.

64:24

Douglas Imrie concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Buchanan. Free kick crossed right-footed by Joe Cardle, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steven Thompson by Martin Hardie. Free kick taken by Craig Samson.

63:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Graham by David van Zanten. Austin McCann restarts play with the free kick.

62:25 Substitution

Substitution Steven Thomson on for Gary Teale.

61:02 Booking

Booking Austin McCann goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

60:49

Close range shot by Gary Teale goes wide of the right-hand upright.

58:50

Foul by Marc McAusland on Martin Hardie, free kick awarded. Austin McCann crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, Marc McAusland manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Joe Cardle, Andy Dowie takes a shot. Save by Craig Samson.

58:32

Jim Goodwin takes a shot. Save by Chris Smith.

57:32

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Joe Cardle, Headed effort from inside the area by Martin Hardie misses to the right of the goal.

56:31

Corner taken right-footed by Gary Teale from the left by-line, clearance made by Austin McCann.

55:31

Austin McCann concedes a free kick for a foul on David van Zanten. Graham Carey delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, clearance made by Jordan McMillan.

54:42

Foul by Jordan McMillan on Douglas Imrie, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Jim Goodwin.

53:53

Unfair challenge on Steven Thompson by Andy Dowie results in a free kick. Graham Carey delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, save made by Chris Smith.

52:56

Corner taken right-footed by Joe Cardle, Andy Dowie challenges Lee Mair unfairly and gives away a free kick. Craig Samson takes the free kick.

52:32

The ball is sent over by Austin McCann, Liam Buchanan takes a shot. Save by Craig Samson.

51:49

Steven Thompson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Dowie. Free kick taken by Chris Smith.

50:51

Corner taken right-footed by Joe Cardle, clearance made by Steven Thompson.

50:05

Inswinging corner taken by Gary Teale, Centre by Graham Carey, David Graham makes a clearance.

49:02

Corner taken by Joe Cardle, Graham Carey manages to make a clearance.

48:27

David Graham fouled by Jim Goodwin, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Chris Smith.

47:28

Gary Mason concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul McGowan. Marc McAusland takes the free kick.

46:31

Corner from the left by-line taken by Joe Cardle, save by Craig Samson. Gary Mason takes a shot. Graham Carey manages to make a clearance.

45:32

Assist by Liam Buchanan.

45:32 Goal scored

Goal - Joe Cardle - Dunf'mline 1 - 1 St Mirren Joe Cardle scores a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Dunfermline 1-1 St Mirren.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:11 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +1:29

Douglas Imrie produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

45:00 +0:47

Unfair challenge on Jim Goodwin by Gary Mason results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Lee Mair.

45:00 +0:47

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jim Goodwin by Gary Mason. Free kick taken by Lee Mair.

42:28

Gary Mason challenges Nigel Hasselbaink unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jim Goodwin restarts play with the free kick.

39:36

Handball by Andy Dowie. Free kick taken by Jim Goodwin.

37:32

Assist by Gary Teale.

37:32 Goal scored

Goal - Steven Thompson - Dunf'mline 0 - 1 St Mirren Steven Thompson scores a headed goal from close in. Dunfermline 0-1 St Mirren.

36:57

Corner taken by Gary Teale from the left by-line,

33:47

Foul by Paul McGowan on Mark Kerr, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed by Austin McCann, Marc McAusland manages to make a clearance.

30:44

The free kick is delivered right-footed by David van Zanten from right channel, Andy Dowie makes a clearance.

30:44 Booking

Booking Alex Keddie is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

30:41

Alex Keddie concedes a free kick for a foul on Nigel Hasselbaink.

28:39

Jim Goodwin fouled by David Graham, the ref awards a free kick. David van Zanten restarts play with the free kick.

26:03

David Graham gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul McGowan. The ball is sent over by Graham Carey, Shot from deep inside the area by Lee Mair goes over the bar.

25:37

Liam Buchanan challenges Lee Mair unfairly and gives away a free kick. Craig Samson restarts play with the free kick.

23:32

Martin Hardie has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses right.

21:46

Mark Kerr concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul McGowan. Direct free kick taken by Lee Mair.

19:10

The offside flag is raised against Nigel Hasselbaink. Andy Dowie takes the free kick.

17:18

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jim Goodwin by Martin Hardie. Craig Samson takes the free kick.

16:35

Steven Thompson challenges Andy Dowie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Andy Dowie takes the direct free kick.

15:06

Andy Dowie concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Thompson. Graham Carey crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, Steven Thompson concedes a free kick for a foul on Alex Keddie. Direct free kick taken by Chris Smith.

14:51

Foul by Martin Hardie on Marc McAusland, free kick awarded. Craig Samson takes the free kick.

13:04

Free kick awarded for a foul by Joe Cardle on Douglas Imrie. Free kick taken by Marc McAusland.

11:42

Free kick taken by Chris Smith.

11:42 Booking

Booking The referee shows Jim Goodwin a yellow card.

11:40

Jim Goodwin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gary Mason.

11:14

Free kick awarded for a foul by Joe Cardle on Jim Goodwin. Jim Goodwin takes the free kick.

10:42

Effort from deep inside the area by Steven Thompson clears the bar.

8:32

Unfair challenge on Martin Hardie by Jim Goodwin results in a free kick. Austin McCann delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, clearance made by Jim Goodwin. Corner taken right-footed by Joe Cardle from the right by-line, Close range headed effort by Andy Dowie clears the crossbar.

5:05

Foul by Jordan McMillan on Paul McGowan, free kick awarded. Lee Mair restarts play with the free kick.

3:31

Liam Buchanan is caught offside. Free kick taken by Craig Samson.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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