Dundee United took a huge step towards Scottish Premier League survival with a win against Dunfermline.

Fellow relegation candidates St Mirren had applied a certain degree of pressure the day before after taking a point from St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

That result had allowed Saints to draw level with United at the bottom of the table and meant the Tannadice side needed at least a draw from this encounter with Dunfermline.

Steven Thompson grabbed the only goal of the game and his first-half header may ultimately decide which of the two sides manage to avoid relegation this season.

The importance of securing three points was not lost on their players and Dundee United immediately set about trying to put pressure on the Pars' goal.

They could have been ahead after just four minutes. Charlie Miller's cross found Steven Thompson on the right wing, who picked out Derek Lilley in front of goal - but his header was tame and easily held by goalkeeper Marco Ruitenbeek.

Four minutes later, Lilley tried to make amends for that miss with a superbly struck shot from just inside the 18-yard box, but Ruitenbeek was alert once more.

With their Premier League status secure this season, Dunfermline have little to play for in the remaining games of the season and their strike force rarely troubled United goalkeeper Paul Gallacher throughout the first half.

He was first called into action after 13 minutes when he pounced off his line to claim a Barry Nicholson free-kick but the former Rangers player had looked unlikely to net from the effort.

United, though, have a relegation battle on their hands and they were rewarded for their attacking play after 21 minutes.

David Partridge surged forward from the halfway line before crossing to Thompson. The Tannadice player connected well enough and, although his header looked to be drifting wide, he just managed to squeeze the ball inside the post, leaving Ruitenbeek stunned.

Four minutes later the home side would have doubled their advantage had it not been for the heroics of Ruitenbeek, who denied skipper Jason de Vos before blocking Miller's rebound.

Seconds later the Dutchman was called into action again, producing an impressive save to deny former Rangers and Watford midfielder Miller for the second time.

United were determined to grab a second before the interval and that almost came courtesy of Craig Easton after 40 minutes - but Chris McGroarty managed to nod clear before Easton could connect with Lilley's cross.

The home side started the second half the way they had ended the first, by launching an attack on the Dunfermline goal.

Lilley had looked menacing throughout the game and he was unlucky not to add his name to the scoresheet after 52 minutes when he unleashed a volley from the corner of the 18-yard box that was just turned away by Ruitenbeek.

The action switched to the other end of the park seven minutes later when the Pars launched an attack that saw Andy Tod test Gallacher with a long-range effort that the Dundee United goalkeeper did well to block.

Dunfermline's best chance of the game so far came after 75 minutes. Substitutes Robert Matthaei and Junior Mendes combined well before Mendes was denied by Gallacher, who rushed off his line to clear.

United were still desperate for a second goal to secure the three points and almost got it through Miller - but Ruitenbeek had been outstanding for the Pars and came to the visitors' rescue once again after 84 minutes.

Seconds later only the crossbar denied Danny Griffin and that was quickly followed by a Dundee United penalty claim after Miller appeared to have been bundled over in the box by Nicholson - but referee Willie Young was unimpressed.

Teams:

Dundee Utd: Gallacher, McCunnie (Buchan 77), De Vos, Lauchlan, Partridge, Easton, Griffin, Miller, Hannah, Lilley (Hamilton 67), Thompson (Winters 79).

Subs Not Used: Combe, Venetis.

Booked: Easton.

Goals: Thompson 21.

Dunfermline: Ruitenbeek, Skinner (Matthaei 58), Tod, Rossi (Doesburg 56), Dair, Nicholson, Ferguson, Petrie, McGroarty, Crawford, Bullen (Mendes 66).

Subs Not Used: Scott Y Thomson, Fotheringham.

Att: 6,679

Ref: W Young (Scotland).