Bottom club Dunfermline moved to within one point of St Mirren as Tam McManus' first goal for the Pars secured victory over Dundee United at East End Park.

McManus volleyed home in style in the 34th minute to continue the fine run Stephen Kenny's side have enjoyed over the past two months.

They have doubled their points tally in that period and must now hope neighbours Falkirk can do them a favour against St Mirren on Monday evening before the two teams meet in a crunch match at Love Street a week later.

The defeat was a shock to the system for Craig Levein's lacklustre United, who had taken seven points from a possible nine against Celtic, Hearts and Aberdeen - scoring four goals on their trips to Tynecastle and Pittodrie.

The home side immediately went on the attack and after 45 seconds Souleymane Bamba flicked on a throw-in from the right and McManus, cup-tied for last week's Scottish Cup semi-final, was first to react.

The former Dundee and Falkirk man poked the ball towards goal but goalkeeper Derek Stillie was quick to react and turned it away - he was not to know that the assistant referee had already raised his flag for offside.

Kenny's men continued to hold the upper hand in the first 15 minutes with Jim O'Brien on the right wing suggesting he could give United left-back Christian Kalvenes a tough afternoon.

Indeed on the quarter-hour mark O'Brien collected the ball just inside the visitors' half, knocked it past Kalvenes and crossed for McManus to loop a header into the arms of Stillie.

McManus was again in the action in the 19th minute when he flashed a header wide after latching onto a deep cross from captain Greg Shields.

At the midway point of the half the Pars missed a great chance to take the lead when Stephen Glass and McManus combined to set up Jim McIntyre just eight yards out but the former United man screwed his shot wastefully wide.

Levein's men offered their first real threat on goal in the 30th minute when Barry Robson curled a free-kick just inches wide of Dorus de Vries' right-hand post.

That seemed to infuse the visitors with some confidence and John Daly and Kalvenes exchanged passes in the Dunfermline box before the left-back was denied by a smothering save from de Vries.

Seconds later the home side took the lead when Shields charged down the right and crossed for McManus to volley home with great aplomb in the 34th minute.

United responded in spirited fashion but failed to especially trouble de Vries as Kenny's side held on for a slim advantage at the break.

A quiet opening to the half ended in the 58th minute when McManus split the United defence with a clever pass and Glass collected the ball with no defenders in sight.

The former Hibs utility player flicked the ball round the on-rushing Stillie but rather than casually knock it into an empty net, Glass blasted horribly over the bar to waste a glorious chance to double his side's lead.

Levein made a double switch in a bid to bring his team level, taking off former Dunfermline player Noel Hunt and the ineffective Morgaro Gomis, passed fit just before kick-off, and replacing them with winger William Easton and striker David Goodwillie.

Easton almost immediately won a corner and after Dunfermline failed to clear, Daly was presented with an excellent headed opportunity at the back post but guided his effort wide of the post.

Kenny made his first switch on 71, taking off McManus - who had an excellent all-round game in addition to his fine strike - and throwing on crowd favourite Adam Hammill.

The talented youngster on loan from Liverpool made an immediate impact, leaving former Scotland defender Lee Wilkie in his wake before pulling the ball back for McIntyre.

His more experienced colleague was not decisive enough, though, and he dwelled on the ball too long, allowing several Pars players to block his attempted shot.

Levein made his final switch 12 minutes from time when he replaced Collin Samuel with David Robertson while McIntyre was withdrawn by Kenny in favour of Mark Burchill with five minutes left as the Pars held on for a crucial three points.

Teams

Dunfermline De Vries, Shields, Wilson, Bamba, Glass,O'Brien (Daquin 90), Mason, McCunnie, Muirhead,McManus (Hammill 70), McIntyre (Burchill 85).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Ross, Young, Thomson.

Goals: McManus 34.

Dundee Utd Stillie, Kalvenes, McCracken, Wilkie,Gomis (Easton 63), Cameron, Daly, Dillon, Robson,Samuel (Robertson 78), Hunt (Goodwillie 63).

Subs Not Used: McLean, Mair, Duff, McCord.

Booked: Gomis, Wilkie.

Att: 5,131

Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).