Neil Lennon has hailed Dunfermline’s ‘outstanding’ performance against Ayr United, despite being frustrated by a 1-1 draw.

Andrew Tod shot the Pars into the lead in the 14th minute with his fifth goal in six games so far this season.

However, Ayr restored parity against the run of play with a 45th-minute header from Luke McBeth.

Both sides had chances after the break, with Ayr’s Ross Taylor twice going close and on-loan Dundee United striker Owen Stirton threatening from set-plays.

But the Pars, who drew with Inverness Caley Thistle on the opening weekend of the campaign, would have won it in injury-time but for a stunning save from Harry Stone from Keith Bray’s volley.

“I thought we were outstanding,” said Lennon after a second consecutive draw in the league. “Obviously it’s a disappointment not to win the game, but the level of performance was through the roof.

“In our first home game last season, we won 2-0 against Airdrie. The level out there today was way, way beyond that.

“So, we’re very unfortunate not to have won the game – the players’ attitude and their qualities, the build-up play, the chances we created.

“I’m really proud of that performance and proud of the players because it’s a huge improvement on last week.

“We’ve done a lot of work on and off the training ground and I saw a lot of good things that really pleased me.”

Dunfermline denied by ‘brilliant save’

Tod had a shot deflected wide in the third minute and then broke the deadlock just 11 minutes later.

A wonderful diagonal pass from Alfons Amade set Shea Kearney free on the right and the wing-back picked out Tod for a composed finish from nine yards out.

Sam Cleall-Harding almost grabbed his first goal since joining on loan from Dundee United with an incredible run past four Ayr defenders before Stone tipped over his left-foot shot.

Then came Ayr’s push late in the first-half, sparked by Musa Dibaga’s excellent save from Stirton’s header.

From the third successive corner, McBeth nodded in after Dibaga had flapped badly at Taylor’s delivery.

Late in the second-half, substitute Josh Cooper flashed a low shot across goal and wide before sending in the cross as Stone brilliantly denied replacement Keith Bray a dramatic winner.

“It’s a brilliant save,” added Lennon, who was without keeper Aston Oxborough, midfielder Kian Corbally and striker Zak Rudden through injury. “I thought Cooper’s was going in as well.

“But we deserved to win. Ayr defended their box heroically at times, but they were hanging on. It was just wave after wave of attack and that, for me, is the most pleasing part.

“I can’t fault the lads today because they did everything but win the game.

Lennon: ‘I can’t be angry with Pars’

“We deserved to win, so I can’t be angry or disappointed.

“You can’t overlook the level of performance and everybody will say it’s about winning.

“It is about winning, no question. But if we play like that every week, we won’t be far away.”

With new signing Allan Oyirwoth not in the squad after joining from New England Revolution on Friday, Lennon handed a debut to new signing Olamilekan Adams in the final 15 minutes.

“He’s only been in the building a couple of days, but I thought he was excellent,” said Lennon of the Nigerian striker.