First Division: Dunfermline get perfect boost ahead of match against Rangers

Dunfermline will travel to Ibrox tomorrow to face Rangers in Co-operative Insurance Cup action as the leading side in the Scottish Football League after a 2-1 home win over neighbours Cowdenbeath. The newly-promoted visitors had won their previous away games in the First Division, defeating Stirling Albion and Morton, and they led at half- time in the first league meeting between the Fife rivals since May 1993.

That contest had ended in a 2-0 win for the Central Park side at East End Park and memories of that triumph were being stirred when John Dempster shot home in seven minutes after collecting a Colin Cameron pass.

But Jim McIntyre's side laid siege to their opponents' goal in the second half, with Steven Bell nodding in a leveller and Joe Cardle firing in the winner from close range.

McIntyre is delighted to be at the top of the tree. "It is nice to be there but it is very early days,'' he said. ''It does bring pressure but if you want to do anything in football you have to handle pressure."

Visiting manager Jimmy Nicholl said: "We worked hard and got ourselves into a good position but Dunfermline really came after us in the second half."

Raith Rovers slipped to second, but they held on to their unbeaten tag after a 0-0 draw at Dundee. The Kirkcaldy side had the better chances to win with John Baird seeing a first-half penalty saved by Rab Douglas.

Stark's Park manager John McGlynn said: "It shows you how far we have come when we are disappointed at dropping two points at Dundee.''

Falkirk made it three home wins in a row when they defeated Morton 2-1 to keep hold of third place. The Bairns enjoyed the better of the first half, although they had to rely on Marc Smyth heading past his own goalkeeper in injury time to take the lead.

Morton dragged themselves level in the second period when Stewart Kean thumped home with 11 minutes left, but Falkirk midfielder Ryan Flynn converted a pass from captain Burton O'Brien.

Manager Steven Pressley said: "That was a big win for us and again we showed great spirit and mentality to achieve it. We have something to build on for the rest of the season."

Ross County won at home for the first time in the league this season, although their 3-1 win over Stirling Albion saw striker Michael Gardyne pick up a red card, so he misses out on facing Dundee United in the Co-operative Insurance Cup on Wednesday.

Gary Wood scored County's first home goal of the season midway through the first half and Gary Miller quickly added a second. On-loan Hearts striker Gordon Smith reduced the deficit before half-time, but Wood struck again just after the break to seal the win before Gardyne was dismissed for a late challenge on Albion's Jerome Heeking.

Partick Thistle's stay at the foot of the table continued as they went down 2-1 at Queen of the South.It was a fourth straight league defeat for the Firhill men, whose summer signing Iain Flannigan shot home from distance to put them ahead after 33 minutes.

Allan Johnston took advantage of good work from Derek Holmes to level with 15 minutes left, and Rocco Quinn grabbed the winner three minutes from full time.