It comes as little surprise that neither of these two sides could make the
vital breakthrough, with Kilmarnock having scored just once in their last five
matches and the visitors battling relegation.
Killie's staff and fans will be dismayed at their side's slide since the
winter break with third place in the league and a possible European spot drifting away from them.
Despite three changes in their line-up from last Sunday's thumping by Rangers,
Kilmarnock were unable to assert any authority on the visitors.
The Fifers, though, with latest signing Owen Coyle making his debut, had no
intention of being the whipping boys.
They made early surges towards the home goal and newcomer Coyle was prominent
early on.
From his first cross Gordon Marshall, as the keeper was to prove during much
of the match, was going to be a thorn in the visitors' side.
In the 12th minute Marc Millar fired in a low cross which saw both Gerard
Britton and Stewart Petrie dive in unavailingly to connect with a cross.
Scott Thomson might have done better when from six yards when he sent his
effort straight into Marshall's hands.
Midfielder Millar almost notched an own goal when the ball sliced off his foot
but fortunately went straight into his keeper's waiting hands.
This appeared to spurn Kilmarnock to greater effort and before the interval
they enjoyed the best part of the match.
Ally McCoist, who has not been having a lucrative time recently, missed a good
opportunity in the 36th minute when he sent his effort both wide of the keeper
and the post.
Wing-back Dylan Kerr swung over two inviting crosses but on each occasion the
Fifers defence outsmarted Gary Holt and Paul Wright respectively.
The Pars continued to press for that vital opener but failed to find the
target three times early in the second half.
Coyle then had another two shots at goal but again Marshall proved to be the
visitors' downfall by making two fine blocks.
Both sides made their substitutions but real scoring opportunities were hard
to come by.
Thomson managed to break away from his marker in the 80th minute but failed to
beat the home keeper before the substitutions tried their luck at goal.
Andrew Smith's despairing dive to reach a cross ended with the ball hitting
the side netting and Alistair Mitchell for Killie brought out one of Lee
Butler's few saves.
For the record Kevin McGowne and Mark Reilly of Kilmarnock and Britton, Gavin
Johnson, Derek Ferguson and Jamie Dolan of Dunfermline were all cautioned but it
is the Pars who take the plaudits.
Dunfermline boss Dick Campbell had mixed feelings over his side's point.
``To get a shut out is good but we've got to start taking our chances,'' he
said.
``With three home games out of the next four everything is now in our own
hands and we hope to take something from these matches.''
``We had to close the gap on the teams around us and we couldn't afford a defeat today to let them get away from us.''
Killie boss Bobby Williamson said: ``It was a poor performance.''
But Williamson ruled out any panic measures in the transfer market, adding:
``I will not be rushing in to buy anyone unless I consider them better than what
I have here already.''
Teams:
Kilmarnock: Marshall, Hamilton, McGowne, Lauchlan, Kerr, Mahood (Burke 76), Holt, Durrant, Reilly, McCoist (Roberts 76), Wright (Mitchell 68).
Subs Not Used: Bagan, Strain.
Dunfermline: Butler, Shields, Tod, Johnson, Millar, Dolan, Ferguson (Dair 70), Thomson, Petrie (Graham 88),Britton (Smith 77), Coyle.
Subs Not Used: Westwater, Martin.
Att: 8,032
Ref: M Clark (Edinburgh).
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