Gus McPherson claimed his first goal of the season to allow Kilmarnock their first home win since October.

The last time Killie took all three points at Rugby Park was against St Mirren, whose own game grabbed all the attention as they proved to be the unwelcome guests at Celtic's championship party.

Ally McCoist was given a starting role again this week and he made the most of his ninth start of the season to fire Kilmarnock ahead just before the break.

But the Pars had to take at least a point from the game to ensure they would be in the top half of the table when the league splits and substitute Lee Bullen gave them a lifeline when his tap-in levelled the scoreline.

But McPherson's strike - along with Dundee's win against Aberdeen - meant it would be the Dens Park side who would make the league's top six and not Dunfermline.

Kilmarnock goalkeeper Gordon Marshall found himself dropped to the bench for this game after Colin Meldrum impressed in the role against Dundee last week when Marshall was suspended.

Former Airdrie midfielder Antonio Calderon was making his debut for the Rugby Park club after signing and he was handed a starting role.

But it was Dunfermline who had the first real chance of the game after just four minutes when Gary Mason went on an impressive run down the left before squaring the ball to Tomas Danilevicius in front of goal.

But he was denied by a vigilant Frederic Dindeleux who cleared the danger before the Lithuanian could pull the trigger.

It was 15 minutes before Killie managed to threaten when Mark Reilly stepped up for a free-kick just outside the 18 yard area but he sent the shot wide of the post.

Five minutes later Pars goalkeeper Marco Ruitenbeek tried to clear a Killie corner kick but caught his own stand-in skipper Scott Thomson on the head.

The player returned to play just before Dindeleux went on a superb run only to unleash a weak effort that was easily held by Ruitenbeek.

The goalkeeper came to the rescue again to clear Andy McLaren's header from inside the six yard box.

And Garry Hay came close to celebrating signing a new deal with a goal when his effort was just wide.

Thomson was obviously still feeling the effects of his earlier clash with the goalkeeper and he had to be replaced by David Moss after 34 minutes.

A minute later, McLaren was threatening again when his effort was deflected off defender Andrius Skerla.

But the breakthrough came three minutes before the interval when veteran striker Ally McCoist fired home from close range after being picked out by an Alan Mahood cross.

Seven minutes after the restart, Mahood again came close to setting up McCoist but the former Rangers striker was denied a second by Jason Dair who cleared the danger.

But just a minute later Ruitenbeek was called into action to block a McLaren shot from just a couple of yards out.

Dunfermline's first chance of the second half came after 56 minutes when Moss' cross was met by Steven Hampshire but he nodded wide.

And after 61 minutes the Pars were back in the game after grabbing the leveller.

Moss saw goalkeeper Meldrum just manage to touch his superb shot away but the ball fell to substitute Lee Bullen who produced a simple tap-in from two yards out.

They could have added a second after 67 minutes when Barry Nicholson's corner found Skerla in the box. He nodded down to Bullen but this time the goalkeeper managed to hold the ball.

Just when it looked like Dunfermline were back in the game, Killie grabbed the lead once more.

Hay's cross picked out Gus McPherson who produced a fantastic strike to fire past a helpless Ruitenbeek.

Dunfermline pushed for the vital goal that would secure their place in the top half of the table and a goalmouth scramble in the last minute of the game almost produced that but Meldrum managed to clear for a corner.

It proved to be the Pars last chance of the game as Killie claimed all three points.

Teams:

Kilmarnock: Meldrum, McGowne, Innes, Dindeleux, MacPherson, Mahood, Reilly, Calderon (Canero 75), Hay, McLaren (Cocard 90), McCoist (Di Giacomo 85).

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Mitchell.

Goals: McCoist 43, MacPherson 67.

Dunfermline: Ruitenbeek, Doesburg (McGroarty 78), Skinner, Skerla, Dair, Hampshire, Nicholson, Mason, Rossi, Scott Thomson (Moss 34), Danilevicius (Bullen 46).

Subs Not Used: Scott Y Thomson, Petrie.

Goals: Bullen 61.

Att: 6,529

Ref: B Orr (Scotland).