Ten-man Dunfermline failed to ease their woes at the foot of the Bank of Scotland Premier League as they were held to a goalless draw by Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Former Scotland striker Stevie Crawford was red-carded for the hosts in the 77th minute after two bookings.

But new East End Park boss Stephen Kenny saw his side fail to worry the Caley backline for most of the game.

Dunfermline striker Mark Burchill failed to make the starting line-up with a thigh injury, while Stephen Simmons was also out with a hip problem.

Souleymane Bamba came into the starting 11 from the side that drew with St Mirren last week, along with Jim Hamilton.

Striker Craig Dargo was out for Caley, with Rory McAllister replacing him up front from the side that started last week at home to Kilmarnock.

Dunfermline enjoyed the better of the early exchanges.

Crawford tested Mark Brown with a seventh-minute shot after neat work in midfield from Hamilton and Bamba.

A minute later, only a fine saving tackle from Darren Dods kept the Highlanders level as Gary Mason broke into the box and was poised to unleash a right-foot shot.

The resulting corner was met by the head of Pars defender Phil McGuire but his effort drifted wide from a few yards out.

Caley looked poised to threaten with a set-piece in the 26th minute, but Barry Wilson's wild free-kick from 30 yards sailed hopelessly high and wide.

Four minutes later, Crawford was sent clear after a knock-on from Hamilton, but Ross Tokely tracked back to deny the former Scotland striker.

The visitors did threaten a minute from the break when Wilson worked a corner short to John Rankin, but the midfielder lashed his effort into the side-netting.

Tempers boiled over after the restart when Scott Muirhead appeared to push Wilson to the ground but referee Willie Collum took no action after a melee.

Wilson then skipped past Muirhead on the right flank in the 53rd minute and found himself clear on goal, but his right-foot shot was blocked by the legs of Pars keeper Dorus De Vries.

Tensions flared again in the 63rd minute after a clash between Mason and Ian Black lead to another melee.

Both players were booked as well as De Vries, who had raced off his line to join the altercation.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men when Crawford was sent off in the 77th minute after picking up his second yellow card for a wild challenge just moments after earning his first.

And, a minute later, the hosts went close when a Wilson corner fell to Roy McBain whose right-foot shot from the edge of the box was blocked and spun high for substitute Graham Bayne to head goalwards, but Derek Stillie tipped over.

Teams

Dunfermline De Vries, Shields, Wilson, Bamba, McGuire,Ross (Daquin 60), Young, Mason, Muirhead (Owen Morrison 66),Crawford, Hamilton (Tod 90).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Scott Morrison, Woods, Williamson.

Sent Off: Crawford (77).

Booked: Mason, De Vries, Wilson, Hamilton, Crawford.

Inverness CT Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson,Black (Duncan 75), Rankin, McBain, Wyness (Bayne 69),McAllister (McSwegan 84).

Subs Not Used: Fraser, McCaffrey, Morgan, Sutherland.

Booked: Wilson, Black, Munro.

Att: 4,216

Ref: W Collum (Scotland).