Neil Lennon’s first game in charge of Dunfermline ended in a 3-1 defeat at Scottish Championship promotion-chasers Ayr.
It was a miserable start for former Celtic and Hibernian boss Lennon, whose side finished with 10 men following the late dismissal of debutant Victor Wanyama for handball.
Connor McLennan fired Ayr ahead shortly before half-time and after Jamie Murphy had doubled their lead midway through the second period, Ethan Walker added a third in stoppage-time.
Partick Thistle gave their play-off bid a big boost as Daniel O’Reilly scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Greenock Morton.
O’Reilly headed home Kyle Turner’s cross midway through the second half to extend Partick’s unbeaten league run to six matches and maintain their six-point advantage over fifth-placed Raith.
Raith maintained their top-four challenge with a convincing 3-0 win at Hamilton to extend their unbeaten league run to five games.
Dylan Easton fired Rovers in front shortly before the break, Callum Fordyce headed their second from a free-kick in the 65th minute and Josh Mullin completed the scoring 10 minutes later to leave Hamilton winless in five.
