Killie boss Jim Jefferies made three changes to the side who beat Hamilton 3-0 in the CIS Insurance Cup second round in midweek.

Striker Kris Boyd suffered a knee injury in the win over Accies and he dropped out along with defender Gary Hay and striker Craig Dargo, who started on the bench.

They were replaced by defender Shaun Dillon, striker Gary Wales and wide-man Stevie Murray.

Dunfermline threatened only seconds into the game, but Mehmet's poor effort from 30 yards went well wide of Killie keeper Alan Combe's right hand post.

The visitors pressed again when striker Craig Brewster spotted a gap in the home defence and fired a 25-yard shot inches wide.

The hosts opened the scoring after 10 minutes with Danny Invincibile netting his third goal in two games.

Invincibile collected a long clearance from Combe and got the better of Pars defender Skerla on his way towards the Dunfermline goal.

The Australian steadied himself, then skilfully beat Pars midfielder Thomson before drilling a shot past Stillie from 10 yards out.

Then, as the home side took control of the game, a swirling Gary Locke cross from the right evaded Stillie and bounced off the woodwork.

The Pars almost levelled through Gary Dempsey, but his 25-yard effort was palmed past the post for a corner by Killie keeper Alan Combe.

Ex Killie boy Greg Shields also tried to get Davie Hay's team back on level terms, but his 30-yard effort was easily gathered by Combe.

At the interval, Pars boss Davie Hay brought on Derek Young and Aaron Labonte for Noel Hunt and Richie Byrne in an attempt to revitalise his lacklustre side.

The visitors then went in search of the equaliser, launching several attacks in the Kilmarnock half.

However, the home side, with Lilley and Freddie Dindeleux in good form, held firm in defence although the attacking options seemed to have dried up.

In the 54th minute, Brewster hammered in a free-kick from 25 yards which Combe saved brilliantly, diving to his right to parry the ball away.

But it was Kilmarnock who almost scored in 72 minutes with their first real strike of the second half, as an Invincibile shot had keeper Stillie at full stretch.

The whole pace of the game, however, slowed as it looked like the Rugby Park men were content to sit back and defend their lead.

The Fifers battled hard in the final quarter of the match but were unable to convert their pressure into a goal.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Lilley (Greer 86 mins), Dillon, Dindeleux, Invincibile, Locke, Johnston, McDonald (Joly 70 mins), Wales (Dargo 57 mins), Murray.

Subs: Smith, Dodds, Canning, Naismith

Attendance: 4,854