Dunfermline went in at half-time against Livingston with a narrow advantage despite dominating most of the opening period.

Steve Crawford stole the show with some excellent strikes and the opening goal.

Dunfermline assistant boss Jimmy Nicholl rang the changes through the side which were hammered 5-1 against Hibernian last Sunday with manager Jimmy Calderwood ill in hospital.

Goalkeeper Marco Ruitenbeek is sidelined for up to five weeks with a knee injury so Scott Thomson deputises.

Barry Nicholson serves his suspension after a late red card against Hibernian - allowing club captain Ian Ferguson to make his long-waited return in midfield.

Andrius Skerla and Youssef Rossi both recovered from a flu virus which swept through the club in midweek to anchor the home defence.

Livingston defender Marvin Andrews, signed from Raith Rovers last season, recovers from a head knock to start the match.

Last week's substitute Steve Tosh filled in for the injured David Fernandez and Dario Aurellio - on loan from Italian side Brescia - came in for his first start of the season.

Dunfermline were first out of the blocks and dominated the opening stages of the game.

As early as the fifth minute Scott Thomson sent a decent-looking cross into the box which Gus McPherson sent high over the bar.

Only three minutes later recent signing Jack de Gier controlled the ball in the box, despite the attentions of three Livvy defenders, and squared for Gary Mason, whose shot was well parried by Broto in the away goal.

The Pars looked odds-on to score early and just as the Livingston defence were clearing their lines, Ian Ferguson sent a ball wide for McPherson to chase.

The former Killie man crossed an innocent-looking ball into the box and as Broto seemed to be looking for offside, Crawford headed the ball in from three yards out.

The home goal woke Livingston into action and it was midfielder Tosh who took the game to Dunfermline with a determined dribble and shot which went just wide of Thomson's left-hand post.

Minutes later Aurellio made a run down the left wing, chasing an innocuous ball - Thomson came out to clear, kicked the ball off Aurellio's back and the ball spun dangerously across the face of goal.

Nathan Lowndes followed in but could not capitalise on the chance.

On 25 minutes Petrie again tormented young Livingston defender Hart on the right wing, sending over an inswinging cross to de Gier. The Dutchman headed the ball down to Crawford, whose shot whistled over the bar.

Tosh and Lowndes tried to force their way through the home defence but were well marshalled by Skerla and Rossi, despite the Moroccan constantly losing his boot.

Dunfermline were creating by far the better chances and just on the half hour, Mason and de Gier combined well in the box.

But although McPherson produced a typical defender's shot, it was still enough to force Broto into a save at the far post.

Livingston made an early substitution to try and redress the balance, with Caputo - another player on loan from Brescia - replacing Lowndes for the second week running.

Livvy did not give up and in the 38th minutes Davide Xausa tried his luck from 20 yards out.

The seemingly innocent shot seemed to trouble Thomson but the keeper found his feet in time to make the save.

Caputo was then booked for a nasty tackle on Skinner, borne out of frustration at the team's showing thus far.

Almost straight away Thomson raced up the right wing and fired an excellent cross for de Gier.

The Dutch striker clipped a shot to the far post at a very narrow angle but Broto pulled off a brilliant save to keep the score down at half-time.

Another couple of bookings followed - Rossi for a late challenge on Tosh and Xausa for complaining too strongly to the referee.

Livingston ended the half stronger and almost found their way to goal when Pars keeper Thomson spilled the ball from a corner but no away player could get a shot in.

Moments later, Andrews nodded the ball into the path of Xausa, who managed to get a good header in, but this time Thomson was equal to the task.

Just on the half-time whistle Livvy had their best chance yet with Skinner making a hash of his pass-back header, leaving Xausa with only the keeper to beat - but his shot went just wide.