Pars bounce back to sink Saints
Dunfermline boss Allan Johnston praised his team for digging deep after watching them edge a thriller.
A Nicky Clark double, an own goal from Andy Webster and late winner from sub Farid El Alagui gave the Pars their first win since the opening day of the league season.
And Johnston said: “We couldn’t believe it when we went in 2-1 down at half-time because we were by far the better team.
“The boys showed a lot of character
after going behind. We had been on a bad run as well but they boys ended up getting their reward.”
Early in the first half, Dunfermline’s John Herron played in Joe Cardle but his first touch was brutal and the chance slipped away.
Michael Paton then skewed a free- kick over before the Fifers were hit with a sucker punch.
Lewis Morgan crossed from the left and John Sutton got the faintest of touches to direct the ball home.
Clark headed the equaliser in 40 minutes but Sutton regained the lead just before half-time, getting on the end of a long punt out from Ryan Hardie and slipping the ball past Sean Murdoch.
Chances came for both sides after the restart before the Fifers levelled again in 62 minutes. Gavin Reilly’s shot was saved and Cardle then hit the post before the ball went in off Webster.
Clark put Pars in front in 77 minutes with a short-range half-volley.
Minutes later, Hardie smashed in a spectacular left-footed leveller.
And in a thrilling finale, El Alagui anticipated Kyle Hutton’s passback and nipped in to finish from close range.
Saints caretaker boss Allan McManus said: “You don’t expect to lose when you score three times away from home.”