Ten-man Hibernian suffered defeat at the hands of Dunfermline just 24 hours into Franck Sauzee's reign as manager.

The Easter Road side looked the more dominating team for large parts of the game but they were left at a disadvantage when Francisco Luna was shown the red card early in the first half.

Hibs held on bravely but Barry Nicholson snatched all three points for Dunfermline in the 74th minute with a superb half-volley.

A large travelling support had made the trip from Edinburgh to East End Park to welcome Sauzee as team manager.

That vocal support seemed to rub off on the Hibs team and they started in rampant form as they pounded the Dunfermline goal with John O'Neil and Alen Orman both threatening in the opening few minutes of the game.

But the Pars gradually came into the game and only the quick thinking of Hibs goalkeeper Nick Colgan kept the scorelines level after 21 minutes.

A Lee Bullen cross from the right found Stevie Crawford in the box but Colgan raced off his line to scoop up the ball before the striker could pull the trigger.

But, seven minutes later, Sauzee faced his first real test as manager when he found his side down to ten men.

Luna had reacted angrily to a rash challenge by Scott Thomson and appeared the lash out at the Pars man in response.

Referee Dougie McDonald immediately produced the red card to end the Spaniard's contribution to the game.

But the Edinburgh side quickly regained their composure and could have been ahead after 35 minutes.

Grant Brebner opted to play the ball back out to Mathias Jack, instead of shooting from inside the box, and the German powered in a 20-yard shot only for goalkeeper Marco Ruitenbeek to tip the ball just wide of the post.

Just two minutes before the interval, the Easter Road side squandered another chance to take the lead when Tom McManus played a short ball to David Zitelli and he tried to chip the goalkeeper only for his first time effort to dip just over the crossbar.

Dunfermline emerged as the more attacking side immediately after the break but Hibs quickly picked up where they had left off at the end of the first half.

Just five minutes after the restart the visitors who could have opened the scoring with two chances in the space of a few seconds.

Brebner did well to take the ball round Chris McGroarty but he was denied the opportunity to shoot inside the area by the more vigilant Gus MacPherson.

But, just seconds later, the Pars had to rely on Ruitenbeek when O'Neil was allowed a free header from just a few yards out.

With a hour of the game gone, the Hibs supporters were screaming for a penalty.

Ruitenbeek rushed to the edge of the box to clear the ball from the path of the on-rushing McManus and the youngster fell to the ground under pressure from the goalkeeper but the referee waved play on.

Four minutes later, the unlikely source of Paul Fenwick should have put Hibs ahead when a Brebner free-kick fell at his feet but the defender blasted the shot well wide.

Brebner was the provider again after 70 minutes when he sent a cross into the area but McManus failed to connect two yards out and the ball was held by the Dunfermline goalkeeper.

Instead it was the Pars who stormed into the lead after 74 minutes.

An Ian Ferguson free-kick into the box was nodded clear but only as far as Nicholson who produced a superb half-volley that left Colgan helpless.

Eduardo Hurtado had replaced Zitelli early in the second half and he had the chance to snatch a share of the points for Hibs after 84 minutes but his 25-yard shot was poor and never really troubled Ruitenbeek.

Still Hibs pressed forward in a desperate attempt to ensure that Sauzee would not end his first game in charge empty-handed.

But the Pars managed to hold on to take all three points.

Teams

Dunfermline: Ruitenbeek, MacPherson, Skerla, Scott Thomson (Skinner 60), Ferguson, Nicholson, Hampshire (Mason 75), McGroarty, Bullen, Crawford, Petrie (Dair 45).

Subs Not Used: Harrower, Nish.

Booked: Bullen, Dair, Ferguson.

Goals: Nicholson 74.

Hibernian: Colgan, Orman, Murray (Laursen 78), Fenwick, Smith, Jack, Brebner, O'Neil, Zitelli (Hurtado 55), McManus (De la Cruz 73), Luna.

Subs Not Used: Caig, Arpinon.

Sent Off: Luna (29).

Booked: Fenwick.

Att: 6,617

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).