STEPHEN KENNY had called upon his Dunfermline players to show resolve in this crucial home encounter with Hibs and that’s exactly what they did, grabbing all three points with a Phil McGuire header seven minutes from the end.

Now the Pars, if they can display this fighting spirit in their remaining games, have a chance of avoiding relegation.

On a day when all the Fife players put in an excellent shift, three in particular stood out—McGuire for his goal, Tam McManus for a real livewire performance against his old side and Souleymane Bamba, who had an excellent match in a black and white jersey.

The Ivory Coast defender was a tower of strength at the back, but also displayed his footballing ability with several superb crossfield passes.

Bamba has been somewhat erratic in his East End Park performances but Saturday was his best to date.

The problem for the big man will be to hold off the challenge of Scott Wilson, now free of suspension, for Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against the Edinburgh side.

Even he isn’t sure if he has done enough to persuade Pars boss Kenny to keep him in the side.

“I don’t know—I just do my job and after that the manager decides,” he said.

“I hope I play because it’s a semi-final and it’s at Hampden.

“It’s good for the team that Scott returns because he’s a good player but I’ll work hard this week and wait and see.

“I have never played in a semi or final before, that’s why I hope to play next week.”

Bamba played down his starring role in the win over their cup semi-final opponents, stressing that getting the points was all that counted.

“I felt I played well but what was more important was the result,” he said. “My performance didn’t matter, it was getting the three points.”

The Pars thoroughly deserved this win. Visiting goalkeeper Andrew McNeil pulled off three or four superb saves to deny them.

McManus was the man who caused the visiting defence most concern.

He was very lively and Easter Road defenders Rob Jones and Chris Hogg had to be on their toes when the former Hibs man was around.

He came closest to opening the scoring for the home side when his 25-yard free-kick was tipped over the bar by McNeil just minutes before half-time.

The introduction of Adam Hammill on 56 minutes breathed new life into a Dunfermline side that had, perhaps, just paused for a breather and the youngster showed some delightful footwork as he first flicked the ball over Scott Brown then bamboozled David Murphy.

And it was Hammill who was to play a part in the Fifers’ winner.

Steven Whittaker upended McManus about 30 yards from goal out on the Dunfermline left and the on-loan Liverpool player sent in a free-kick which McGuire got to first to head past McNeil.

There were a few nervy moments as the minutes ticked down but the Pars held on and rejoiced when the final whistle sounded.

It was Kenny’s first home league win since he took over the managerial reins and how the players and fans enjoyed it.

Unfortunately, new East End Park hero McManus won’t be available for the cup return on Sunday as he is cup-tied after being an unused substitute for Falkirk in an earlier round.

It’s a decision that has left the player angry and frustrated and he blasted the SFA for the ruling.

“I’m sick at that,” he said. “It’s a disgraceful rule.

“I was on the bench for Falkirk and never got on so why should I be cup-tied?

“To play well today and miss out next week is gutting for me but I just hope the lads can go and win it.”

Turning back to the win over his old side, McManus added, “It was a massive game for us.

“It looked like it was going to finish 0-0 but big Phil’s popped up and grabbed a priceless winner for us.

“I’ve only been here for a couple of games but the passion’s there and all the players are desperate to stay up.”

And he joked, “I’ve played two games here and won two so maybe if I was here earlier we could have gone for the Champions League.”

Dunfermline boss Kenny, meanwhile, was delighted with his side’s showing, saying, “I was very pleased with the manner of the victory, we didn’t just defend and hope to get a break.

“We were brave in our approach and I think we got our just reward in the end.

“When we drew with St Mirren a few weeks ago we were nine points adrift and many people were of the view that we should start planning for the first division.

“But we didn’t have that view ourselves and I asked the players to give me two wins out of three before the split to give ourselves a chance and they have delivered.”

Hibs boss John Collins was disappointed by the lack of opportunities his side created during the game.

“It’s always frustrating when you don’t score goals,” he said.

“We don’t have that cutting edge at the moment and when you don’t score goals you are always under pressure.”