New Dundee United owner Mark Ogren was at Tannadice for the first time since taking control of the club and he saw his team secure a vital victory over Dunfermline.
The game was far from a thing of beauty and it seemed certain it was going to finish in a 0-0 draw.
However, United sub – and former Pars striker – Nicky Clark popped up late on with the only goal of the game to secure all three points for the Tangerines.
With Ross County and Ayr both losing, United are now level on points with the Honest Men and just three behind the Staggies at the top of the Championship table.
United boss Robbie Neilson made just one change from the team that drew with Partick Thistle last weekend with new signing from St Mirren Cammy Smith coming into the starting line-up at the expense of Fraser Aird who dropped out of the squad altogether.
New Pars boss Stevie Crawford kept faith with the same starting XI that drew with Alloa at East End Park last Saturday.
There was plenty of honest endeavour but little in the way of clear-cut opportunities in the first 45.
The Pars had a half chance in the ninth minute when Aidan Keena hit a snap shot from the edge of the United box but home keeper Benjamin Siegrist easily gathered.
Shortly after, a Tangerines corner was headed on by Pavol Safranko towards Stewart Murdoch but the full-back headed straight into Pars goalie Lee Robinson’s hands.
The best chance of the first half eventually came in the 33rd minute when Dunfermline’s Miles Hippolyte sent a cross in from the right towards James Vincent but the on-loan Dundee midfielder hit a low, controlled shot from 12 yards just past the post.
Three minutes after the restart, United came close to breaking the deadlock when Safranko won possession and then advanced into the Pars box before hitting a low shot with Robinson having to produce a diving save at his near post.
As the half progressed, flowing football was noticeable by its absence with a succession of niggly fouls constantly disrupting play.
Clark had a sight of goal in the 74th minute but he fired wide.
However, seven minutes later the same player made no mistake. Fellow sub Aidan Nesbitt sent a chipped cross in from the left with Clark ghosting in to head past Robinson at his near post.
There was a nervous end to the contest for the home fans with seven minutes of added on time but United held firm to take all three points.
