St Mirren kept their hopes of Premier League survival alive with a crucial 2-1 win at East End Park over Dunfermline.

The victory allows the Paisley side to keep nearest rivals Dundee United under pressure.

Jamie McGowan and Mark Yardley scored in the first half to secure the win before Lee Bullen scored in the final minute for the Pars.

But the three points signalled Saints' first away win of the season and was an indication of the ability to grind out results that they must continue to demonstrate if they are to retain their status in the top flight.

Dunfermline's place in the SPL may be safe but they tried to contribute to St Mirren's downfall by piling the pressure on goalkeeper Ludovic Roy's goal from the outset.

Both Stevie Crawford and Barry Nicholson had impressed for Scotland against Poland midweek and they were both handed starting roles for the Pars, despite those exertions.

But with Saints battling for survival they were always going to cause Dunfermline problems and they had the first real chance of the game courtesy of Barry McLaughlin.

Mark Yardley flicked the ball onto the defender but his shot was weak and slid past the post after two minutes.

That seemed to spur the Pars into action and Crawford, in particular, was looking dangerous.

With three minutes on the clock, Ian Ferguson released Lee Bullen down the left wing, who provided a cross into the box that was met by Crawford.

The striker looked certain to score but instead sent his header just over the crossbar.

He was handed an second chance just seconds later when his well-struck shot had goalkeeper Roy beaten only to smack off the upright.

Dunfermline goalkeeper Marco Ruitenbeek was called into action for the first time after ten minutes and he did well to keep the scoreline level when he denied Yardley.

It was starting to look like it might not be Crawford's day after all when he saw another chance squandered.

This time Youssef Rossi went on a great run before squaring the ball to the Pars striker in front of goal.

All that was required was a simple tap-in - instead he sent the ball yards over the crossbar after 18 minutes.

Crawford's fellow Scotland international, Nicholson, also wasted a good chance to hand the Pars the lead.

Jason Dair flighted a cross into the box towards the unrushing Nicholson but the former Rangers player sent the shot skywards.

Dunfermline had enjoyed the best of the early chances but St Mirren showed that their need and hunger was greater when they took the lead after 31 minutes.

A Bowman corner found Graham Fenton, who nodded the ball down into the path of McGowan, who headed home from six yards out.

That goal lifted the visiting side and, just three minutes before the break, they stretched their lead to two goals.

Andrius Skerla tried to nod a Stephen McPhee cross back to the Dunfermline goalkeeper but the move was well read by Yardley, who intercepted to fire home St Mirren's second goal of the day.

Sergei Baltacha replaced Fenton at half-time and made an immediate impact when Saints were awarded a free-kick after 55 minutes.

Baltacha stepped up for the set-peice just outside the 18-yard box and unleashed a powerful shot but Ruitenbeek produced a superb save to prevent Saints from extending their lead.

Five minutes later, St Mirren were threatening again. This time Yardley was proving to be a danger in front of goal but couldn't find the space to pull the trigger.

He laid the ball off to Ricky Gillies but the club's top goalscorer sent the ball over the crossbar.

Dair had a great chance to pull Dunfermline back into the game after 70 minutes with a decent close-range shot but, for the second time during the game, the Pars were denied by the woodwork and the ball smacked off the post.

They continued to push forward, though, and Nicholson tried to set up former Saint Junior Mendes but the danger was cleared by McLaughlin who sent the ball out for a corner.

Gillies was St Mirren's goal hero on Monday when he grabbed two goals against Dundee United and he just failed to add his name to the score-sheet with just ten minutes to go. He took the ball round Nicholson before firing just over the crossbar.

Seconds later, St Mirren's Nicolson was also denied - this time goalkeeper Ruitenbeek came to the rescue to block the shot.

The Pars' pressure eventually paid off when Stewart Petrie's shot was blocked but fell to Bullen who rammed home the rebound in injury time.