Dundee 0 Dunfermline 2

Last updated : 17 August 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Dunfermline collected all three points with a fine victory over Jim Duffy's European heroes Dundee.

Gavin Rae charged into the visitors penalty area only to see his effort deflected wide for a corner with five minutes played.

Ten minutes later a great cross by Barry Nicholson towards Lee Bullen was cleared by Jonay Santos Hernandez before Stevie Crawford fired high over the bar.

Dundee almost opened the scoring with 19 minutes gone, but Steve Lovell's low shot hit the outside of the post and went wide.

Brent Sancho almost scored on his home debut, but his left-foot shot from a tight angle was turned around the post by Derek Stillie with 32 minutes on the clock.

Two minutes before half time Nacho Novo was denied when Stillie blocked his close-range shot.

The home team were made to pay for these misses when Dunfermline took the lead on the stroke of half time and it was the unlucky Lee Wilkie who turned the ball into his own net from Gary Mason's free-kick.

Crawford almost doubled the away side's lead a minute after half time but his glancing header was well saved by Julian Speroni.

With an hour played Garry Brady went close for the home team but again Stillie saved the visitors when he turned the midfielder's effort around the post.

Dundee were pressing for the equaliser and central defenders Wilkie and Lee Mair were next to have a go, but their efforts failed to trouble the Dunfermline keeper.

Stillie was called into action again when he saved Fabian Caballero's 25-yard drive and seconds later he denied the same player again when he blocked his close-range effort.

Three minutes from time the Pars secured the points when Crawford scored from close range after being set up by sub Billy Mehmet.