Defender Michael Nelson was fit to start after shaking off an ankle injury as Killie made one change from the side which began the 1-0 Scottish Cup loss at Hibernian on Saturday, with Lewis Toshney starting.

Killie were beginning to show the greater quality on the ball, only for Hutton and Mark Kerr to offer some protection for the Pars defence.

Shiels almost set up a chance for Paul Heffernan, but Alex Keddie managed to get in front of the Killie striker and Smith collected. Smith was then equal to a left-footed Shiels shot on the turn.

Dunfermline equalised after 44 minutes as David Graham burst through the centre of the field and prodded the ball forward to Kirk, who beat the offside trap. With Cammy Bell advancing from his line, Kirk shot early into the bottom corner.

After the restart, Bell touched a shot from Liam Buchanan around the post, then a headed effort at the other end from inside the area by Dean Shiels went wide.

Moments later, Dunfermline keeper Smith was put under pressure with a pass back and swiped clumsily at the ball before making a recovery to clear the danger.

Paul Heffernan sent an effort over the Dunfermline crossbar, then Alex Keddie cleared the danger when Smith was tested by a powerful Hay shot.

Manuel Pascali appeared to push Kirk inside the Killie penalty area shortly after the hour mark, but referee Calum Murray waved play on.

Kirk failed to find the net after being gifted a golden opportunity with 15 minutes remaining, then a Shiels set-piece from the edge of the area sailed over the bar.

A Hay free-kick was turned out for a corner by Smith as the visitors went in search of a winner, and a Pascali header was cleared off the line by Mark Kerr as Dunfermline lived dangerously in the latter stages of the match.

A late flurry from Dunfermline saw Martin Hardie denied twice as the match ended with a share of the spoils.