GAMBLE FAILS FOR LEVEIN

The Jambos boss made six changes to the team which beat Sporting Braga in the UEFA Cup at Murrayfield last week, with debutant defender Craig Sives lining up alongside other fringe players such as Christophe Berra, Neil Jancyzk, Dennis Wyness and Michael Stewart.

However, the Gorgie club were out-played for most of the game against a tenacious Pars side who won with a terrific Barry Nicholson goal.

The margin of defeat could have been greater if 'keeper Craig Gordon had not saved a penalty as well as pull off several good saves in open play.

Levein admitted the gamble failed but the Jambos boss insisted the game against the Fifers represented the best chance to see just how strong his squad was.

He said: "I gave players an opportunity today because I needed to find out if some of these guys who were sitting on the sidelines and waiting for their chance could grasp it.

"But I didn't really have anybody who made the right noises about ousting the regular first-team players.

"We had players with a few niggles and knocks so that made me leave them out and you're always taking a chance.

"It was kind of a difficult decision to make and I can't really complain about the outcome.

"I thought the first half was even but Dunfermline started the second half at a better tempo than we did and, apart from a late flurry, we were out-played although we might have got something at the end.

"We didn't prioritise. We have a few big games coming up, in the CIS Insurance Cup on Wednesday, the SPL on Saturday and Europe next week so it was a case of when could I put these players in? It was my decision and unfortunately it didn't work for us."

Dunfermline manager Davie Hay insisted his players showed nerves of steel as going into the game they were rooted to the bottom of the table.

They also had to deal with missing a Gary Dempsey penalty when the score was 0-0.

He said: "I felt we merited the win even though it took a fantastic goal by Barry Nicholson to beat Craig Gordon who was great for them.

"But there were no nerves about the game as far as the players were concerned. I spoke to the players at length about it this week and they showed great character and resilience.

"Even when we missed the penalty, there was still a fair period of time to go and in fact we upped our performance.

"The way things have been going before we might have thought that I wasn't going to be our day but we kept going.

"We haven't been playing that badly but obviously it's all about results which is why I'm delighted for the players, the chairman and the supporters.

"Now we have to improve our league position and hopefully that win will be a springboard for the rest of the season."