The future of Livingston player-manager Paul Lambert was left in serious doubt as Dunfermline opened up a six-point gap at the foot of the Bank of Scotland Premier League table.

An horrendous blunder by Livi goalkeeper Ludovic Roy allowed Mark Burchill to claim all three points for the Fife club at Almondvale in the 12th minute.

The former St Mirren number one allowed Burchill's cross to bounce off his body and into the net to separate the sides at the end of the crunch relegation battle.

Roy, deputising for injured regular Roddy McKenzie, appeared to be in no danger as the former Celtic forward's swerving cross speared its way towards him.

But, as the ball bounced up off the turf, he only succeeded in helping it into the net.

Lambert went into the match with question marks hanging over whether he would continue at Livi after the midweek 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Hibernian at Easter Road.

And the mistake was the last thing the former Celtic and Scotland captain needed as he looked to haul his side back level on points with their visitors.

Livingston opened the match brightly and appeared eager to make up for their midweek humbling.

However, their inability to score haunted them yet again throughout a whirlwind 90 minutes in which the Pars defence held the upper hand.

After taking their fortunate lead, Dunfermline were then struck a blow when striker Noel Hunt was forced off with a thigh injury to be replaced by recent signing Andy Campbell after only 16 minutes.

As they tried to force their way back in the match, Livingston passed up a gilt-edged opportunity to equalise in the 24th minute as Derek Adams blasted a free-kick over the bar from the 18-yard line.

The strong winds ensured good passing play was at a premium, but referee Craig Thomson did not help with some persistent whistling.

Dave Mackay slipped a header over from Wes Hoolahan's corner, but there was little to cheer the home fans in a first half of few chances.

Hoolahan was forced off to be replaced by Steve Hislop after a hefty challenge from Stephen Simmons.

And, with it, appeared to go Livingston's chances of a revival.

Roy then had to react quickly to steer a Burchill header from Darren Young's wicked corner over the bar and Andy Tod sent a header wide as the Pars piled on the pressure.

Hislop's first real impact on the game was to fly into Bryn Halliwell as the Dunfermline keeper was forced to the edge of his area to mop up Jamie McCunnie's terrible pass-back.

With 15 minutes remaining, Livingston carved out their best chance of the second period from a set play.

Adams floated in a free-kick which teased Halliwell off his line, but the Englishman was beaten to the ball by substitute Hislop whose header slipped agonisingly wide of the post.

Another free-kick lofted in by Robert Snodgrass heaped even more pressure on to the visitors' defence.

Emmanuel Dorado's header from the half-cleared initial ball had Halliwell in all sorts of trouble but Jamie McCunnie popped up on the line to clear the danger.

The home side took every opportunity to throw men forward in search of the equaliser but to no avail to leave Lambert considering his future.

Teams

Livingston Roy, Mackay, Pinxten, Dorado, Tierney,McNamee (Walker 38), Dair (Dorrans 73), Adams,Hoolahan (Hislop 60), Snodgrass, Morrow.

Subs Not Used: Woods, Scott, Vincze, Miller.

Booked: Snodgrass, Tierney, Dorado, Walker.

Dunfermline Halliwell, Shields, Scott Wilson, Darren Young,McCunnie, Thomson (Zambernardi 81), Mason,Burchill (Donnelly 83), Hunt (Andy Campbell 16), Tod, Simmons.

Subs Not Used: Paterson, Craig Wilson, Iain Campbell, Phinn.

Booked: Tod, Burchill, Simmons.

Goals: Burchill 12.

Att: 4,371

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).