Dundee United clawed their way back into the race for Premier League survival with a comfortable 3-0 win over Dunfermline at Tannadice.

Craig Easton and Andy Tod scored either side of the break to dent the Pars' hopes of achieving European football next season.

Second half substitute Daniel Ogunmade secured the three points, which moved the Tangerines level on points with Motherwell at the foot of the SPL table, in the closing moments.

But there had been few chances in the opening half-hour although United did have the ball in the net after 23 minutes but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Jim McIntyre cleverly flicked on a long ball from Stuart Duff to find Derek Lilley unmarked inside the area.

The former Leeds man hammered the ball past Derek Stillie but he mis-timed his run and was thwarted by the raised flag.

Dunfermline forced Paul Gallacher into action on the half-hour mark when Ged Brannan picked up a loose ball 20 yards from goal and fired in a powerful effort.

His shot was destined for the top corner of the net but the United goalkeeper flung himself across goal and palmed the ball to safety.

However, United took the lead with six minutes of the half remaining after some determined play from Jim Paterson.

The wing-back was causing all sorts of problems for veteran defender Gus MacPherson, who was struggling to cope with his pace.

Paterson broke free of his marker and fired in a perfectly weighted ball for the head of Easton, who had taken up position eight yards out.

The United midfielder leapt above his marker and nodded the ball to the far left corner of the net, giving Stillie no chance of making a save.

Pars boss Jimmy Calderwood made a tactical substitution at half-time, withdrawing midfielder Jason Dair and replacing him with recent Irish signing Noel Hunt.

The forward went straight into attack alongside Crawford and Craig Brewster in an attempt to get the Pars back into the game.

But their task was made more difficult after 47 minutes as the Tangerines doubled their lead.

Lilley broke down the left and fired a low cross through the six-yard box.

McIntyre missed the ball completely but its pace caught the Dunfermline defence flat-footed and it zipped to the back post for Tod, who bundled it into the net.

Russell Latapy had been tiring badly as the game progressed and was withdrawn after 56 minutes, with Billy Dodds introduced to the action in his place.

And United added a third with just a minute remaining with a goal of sublime quality.

Second-half substitutes Allan Smart and Ogunmade combined to kill off any hopes the Pars had of stealing anything from the game.

Smart crossed from the right wing for his young team-mate and he coolly controlled the ball with his right foot before firing beyond Stillie with his left from 10 yard out.

Teams

Dundee Utd: Gallacher, McCunnie, Bollan, Easton, Lilley (Ogunmade 77), McIntyre (Smart 85), Paterson, Duff, Tod, Latapy (Dodds 58), McCracken.

Subs Not Used: Combe, O'Donnell.

Goals: Easton 38, Tod 47, Ogunmade 89.

Dunfermline: Stillie, MacPherson (Kilgannon 56), Dair (Hunt 45), Skerla, Nicholson, Mason, Crawford, Brewster, Brannan, Scott Wilson, Grondin.

Subs Not Used: Ruitenbeek, Walker, McGarty.

Booked: Scott Wilson.

Att: 6,004

Ref: Tom Brown (Scotland).