Scottish Championship: Euan Murray returns as Pars starting eleven shows four changes. Craig Wighton penalty saved (21), Craig Wighton (44) 1-0:

A headed goal from Craig Wighton was enough the lift the three points and move the Pars back into second place in the Championship.

Dunfermline, back in action after 14 days without a match, faced a Morton side under the new management of former Par, Gus Macpherson.

Stevie Crawford was without the services of Lewis Mayo who was red carded at Palmerston Park last time out. Also missing were Kerr McInroy and Josh Edwards and Declan McManus was on the bench. Euan Murray returned after missing the match at Queen of the South along with Aaron Comrie, Scott Banks and Iain Wilson

Morton handed a debut to former St Mirren man, Stephen McGinn who arrived on loan from Hibs this week. He took the place of Kyle Jacobs in an otherwise unchanged team from the one to win at Inverness in midweek.

Fraser Murray kicked off for the Pars and it was him that sent the ball left for Dom Thomas to test keeper Aidan McAdams after only 90 seconds. When the corner was sent in from the left Murray arrived to meet the ball 20 yards out but Brian McLean made a stinging block. Wilson returned the ball but McAdams held.

The next chance came in nine minutes when Thomas turned in his own half and released a ball for Murray to run on to but McLean won possession on the edge of the Morton box and the chance was lost.

The next Dunfermline chance came much closer. On the quarter hour Craig Wighton won possession on the right and cut back for Banks whose shot from just outside the box slipped narrowly wide left. Then a Murray pass took Banks into the left side of the Morton box and as the Crystal Palace loanee tried to round Aidan McAdams he was taken down and referee Steven Kirkland pointed to the penalty spot.

Wighton took responsibility for the 21st minute spot kick but McAdams went to his right to block the shot. Wighton followed up and looped a shot on to the crossbar before McLean headed off the goal line. The second penalty miss in consecutive matches.

Luca Colville forced a corner off Comrie in 26 minutes, Craig McGuffie delivered from the left and after defended out McGinn returned an effort that landed half way up the McCathie Stand.

It was five minutes from the break before the goals were next threatened and it was Morton captain Sean McGinty whose header on a Thomas free kick that narrowly avoided going into his own goal. A Murray corner from the left was followed by a Thomas corner from the right but Reece Lyon eventually cleared for Morton.

Morton won a corner at the other end but Owain Fà ´n Williams was fouled by Fjà ¸rtoft. When play switched back to the other end, Banks surged in field and laid off for Thomas on the left to pick out WIGHTON. As he drifted in between Fjà ¸rtoft and McGinty, his glancing header found the ‘Ton net, 1-0

Despite the half time stats showing only 38% home possession they had four shots to Morton’s one and crucially the lead.

Half time: Dunfermline 1 Morton 0

Morton’s striker Kazaiah Sterling gave Paul Watson the runaround to break through into the Pars box in the third minute of the second half but Steven Whittaker made a tremendous blocking tackle. A corner was conceded on the right side but Comrie cleared the danger.

A 59th minute Fraser Murray free kick created some danger in the Morton six yard box but when Wighton got in a shot it was off target. Murray had a glorious chance in 66 minutes but pulled his shot wide right. Banks had done well to find Whittaker on the right and his pass up the wing was caught by Wighton and cut back for his unmarked teammate but alas no goal.

Thomas forced a corner on the left that Fraser Murray sent towards the near post but Euan Murray just couldn’t get the contact. Morton then introduced former Hearts man, Gary Oliver, in place of Reece Lyon and they immediately pressed and won two corners that Dunfermline cleared effectively.

Nesbitt ran on to a good opportunity in 72 minutes but blasted his shot wide right. Whittaker supplied a nicely weighted pass for Comrie to break with pace but his final pass went behind Wighton. Thomas returned the ball and Comrie and then Banks had efforts blocked. Play continued with a corner from the right and Watson headed a cross on to the roof of the net.

Kyle Turner and then Declan McManus came on for Dom Thomas and Craig Wighton as the match entered its final ten minutes. Morton too made a double substitution and it was sub Kalvin Orsi who next made FÃ ´n Williams hold a header.

In 89th minute Scott Banks was withdrawn for Vytas GaÃ… ¡puitis to come on for his Dunfermline debut. That gave the Pars an extra player in defence and they saw out the time added on to secure the three points.

Dunfermline’s strong home form continued therefore unbeaten in their six home games since losing to Morton on 12th December.