The 2011–12 season was Dunfermline Athletic's 1st season back in the Scottish Premier League after winning promotion from the Scottish First Division during the 2010–11 season. They also competed in the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup.

SPL

The new SPL season started on 23 July, but Dunfermline didn't play until two days later as they were scheduled for TV coverage on Sky Sports.

July/August

St Mirren (Home)

In the first game of the season Dunfermline hosted St Mirren in a match which the visitors dominated. Just before half-time a penalty was awarded to St Mirren, which was taken by Stephen Thompson, but saved by goalkeeper Paul Gallacher. The rest of the match was played out with St Mirren on top but unable to beat Gallacher. Final score: 0–0.<ref></</ref>

Inverness (Home)

In a six-goal thriller the points were evenly split, leaving both sides feeling that they could have won the match. Dunfermline dominated most of the match and started well with Andy Kirk scoring early with a neat finish. After half-time Inverness scored from a deflected Greg Tansey shot, then Dunfermline pulled ahead with another goal from Kirk. The visitors rallied as Dunfemline sat back further and further allowing Inverness to score twice more from Jonny Hayes, after a spilled save by Gallacher, and a Tansey header. Deep into stoppage time Martin Hardie curled a 30-yard free kick into the top corner to equalise. Final score: 3–3 .<ref></</ref>

St Johnstone (Away)

In Dunfermline's first away trip of the SPL season they came out the victors. An early goal for the hosts was ruled out for a handball, and a resulting yellow card for the defender. From a clever corner routine Jason Thomson curled the ball through to Kirk, who fired in from short range. At this point Kirk was now the leading goalscorer in the SPL. Martin Hardie then went close to scoring against his former club with a header from a corner. With half an hour to go in the game John Potter tripped Francisco Sandaza and was sent off,(though this was later rescinded to a yellow<ref></</ref>) with a penalty awarded to the hosts. The resulting penalty was taken by Liam Craig and was saved by Paul Gallacher, his second penalty save in three games. Despite the extra man advantage St Johnstone rarely looked like scoring and the few chances they did have was dealt with by the keeper comfortably. Final Score: 1–0<ref></</ref>

Dundee United (Away)

Dundee United dominated this game from start to finish but were unable to score against an in-form Paul Gallacher. A triple save was particularly impressive, firstly from a near post header. Then again from the corner and the resulting drive from outside the box forced Gallacher into a super reaction save as he only saw it late. Dunfermline's only threat going forward was from set-pieces where Hardie went close from a free-kick and a corner. But late on a mazy run from Joe Cardle was crossed low back to the edge of the area, where Paul Burns's well taken shot was driven into the net. Final Score:1–0<ref></</ref>

Motherwell (Home)

Both teams went into this match after an excellent start to the season, both surpassing expectations. From the start the visitors looked like they would get goals with Dunfermline's defence being torn apart, especially by a lively Chris Humphrey. The breakthrough finally came when Keith Lasley and Michael Higdon combined with Higdon curling in from the edge of the area. Tom Hateley nearly made it two a few minutes later with a free-kick hitting the post. But it was only a short respite for Dunfermline as Motherwell scored again, Jamie Murphy strolled past Gary Mason and was given time to hit a 20-yard shot which heavily deflected off Alex Keddie and into the net. In the second half things hadn't changed with Motherwell dominating and when Chris Humphrey was allowed to cut inside into the box his shot clipped the post and into the net. Dunfermline then started to attack, pushing Motherwell back, and were rewarded when David Graham's 25-yard shot flicked off Joe Cardle and into the net, with Cardle claiming the goal. Cardle then bagged another as he cut into the box and his shot deflected off Stephen Craigan and past the helpless keeper. With two minutes to go Dunfermline pushed forward, but were counter-attacked and Higdon's late finish from a cross by Nicky Law finished the game. Final Score:2–4<ref></</ref>

September

Kilmarnock (away)

Dunfermline's first game after the international break started well with Jason Thomson scoring his first professional goal after the ball ricocheted off him from a corner. At this point, Dunfermline were on top even though manager Jim McIntyre had been sent to the stands by the referee early on. Alex Keddie then brought down James Dayton in the box, and the resulting penalty was converted by Paul Heffernan. He then doubled his goal tally when an incisive ball through the defence from Dean Shiels was finished by the striker. Straight after half-time Dunfermline hit back with Ryan Thomson heading home Joe Cardle's cross. However Zdenek Kroca calmly slotted a finish in after being given time in the box, putting the home side back in the lead. Late on Andy Kirk thought he had equalised but was correctly ruled offside. Final score: 2–3<ref></</ref>

Hibernian (home)

The home side could have been three up within the first half an hour with Kirk, Jason Thomson and Alex Keddie all putting chances wide. Dunfermline were controlling the game until, against the run off play, Hibs scored. A throw-in on the right, just inside Dunfermline's half, was flicked on to Ivan Sproule, who walked through some poor defending to easily slot home. Hibs then took charge of the game and Paul Gallacher had to make a super one-on-one save from Garry O'Connor. However, in the second half O'Connor's shot, after being allowed to turn by Austin McCann, deflected off Keddie and past the hapless Gallacher. Dunfermline then attacked and were rewarded under two minutes later after Ryan Thomson powered through the Hibs team and finished well. A Joe Cardle drive was then parried out to J. Thomson who scuffed his shot off Paul Hanlon and into the net. Dunfermline nearly won the game with attempts from Cardle, Andrew Barrowman and the impressive David Graham, all not finding the goal. Final Score:2–2<ref></</ref>

Rangers (Home)

This was a game which showed the gulf of class between the Old Firm and the rest of the league. Rangers took the lead in less than 10 minutes with a Carlos Bocanegra header from a corner. A few minutes later Maurice Edu fired home an excellent shot from 20 yards to make it 2–0. A penalty appeal for Rangers was then turned down, despite J Thomson appearing to be holding onto Bocanegra. Steven Naismith was then lucky not to be sent off as he elbowed Austin McCann in the face during a free-kick. The referee missed it, but he was caught by the cameras and subsequently banned.<ref></</ref> Allan McGregor then had his first save to make after Paul Burns's bouncing shot had to be turned away. Early in the second half a through ball by Steven Davis was slotted home by Naismith to make it 3–0. McGregor then was forced into a fine save after David Graham got one-on-one with him after a fine through ball by Andrew Barrowman. Naismith then finished off the scoring after a fast break by Rangers left them five on three against Dufermline and an unselfish Nikica Jelavic squared it for Naismith's second off the day. It would have been more if Paul Gallacher hadn't made some excellent saves including two free-kicks from Davis and Jelavic as well as 35-yard volley from Steven Whittaker. Dunfermline gave the ball away far too many times during the game with Gary Mason and J Thomson the worst offenders. Final Score 0–4<ref></</ref>

Aberdeen (Away)

The first of the experimental Friday night football games this season with met with a routing of Dunfermline by Aberdeen. An early goal from a Scott Vernon header from Ricky Foster's cross put the Dons in a commanding position. Aberdeen's left-back Foster was the key man providing the best attacking threat with his dangerous crosses and only a string of super saves by Paul Gallacher kept the score at 1–0. But half an hour later Vernon's second headed goal of the night, after Youl Mawene's flick on, put Aberdeen in a comfortable lead. Replays later confirmed that Vernon was offside when the ball was played, but the goal would stand. A third goal came on the stroke of half-time with a Foster cross being controlled by Vernon and he had time to flick the ball onto Fraser Fyvie who slotted home. So far, Dunfermline's only chance had been an Andrew Barrowman header which went just past the post. Barrowman then had a second half shot turned round the post as he provided Dunfermline's attacking threat. A final goal came by Vernon after Mohamed Chalali's shot hit the post and rebounded nicely. Manager McIntyre criticised a dire performance all round by Dunfermline<ref></</ref> with Jason Thomson and John Potter later criticised heavily. Only Gallacher escaped the managers wrath. Final Score 0–4<ref></</ref>

October

Hearts (Home)

A dull game was won by the visitors after two mistakes cost Dunfermline two goals.<ref></</ref> Hearts had the best of the first half with David Templeton having an early shot deflected wide by John Potter. Later, Rudi Skacel had his shot turned round the post for a corner by Paul Gallacher. From the resulting corner front post man Kirk failed in his attempted clearance, merely flicking the ball backwards onto Andy Webster's head and from inside the 6-yard box, he could not miss. Neither side had many clear-cut chances with Dunfermline's chances coming from a sliced Paddy Boyle cross over the bar, and a mazy run from David Graham finishing with a shot straight into the keeper's arms. Hearts went close from a long shot by Danny Grainger and a header by the same. Boyle then gave the ball away with a terrible pass straight to Templeton whose shot was saved by Gallacher, but the rebound put away by Skacel. Final score 0–2<ref></</ref>

Inverness (Away)

An early Paul Burns strike curled against the inside of the post and trickled along the line, somehow staying out of the goal. Dunfermline proceeded to dominate as John Potter and Joe Cardle had shot saved by the keeper Ryan Esson. A slip by Alex Keddie then let Richie Foran past him and his cross was met by a flying header from ex-Raith Rovers player Gregory Tade. However, in the second half, the Pars continued to threaten and Andy Kirk hooked a shot over before Inverness immediately responded with a 25-yard Greg Tansey free-kick that flew a foot wide. Liam Buchanan was then brought down in the box by David Proctor, and he stepped up to take the penalty himself, calmly slotting home to equalise. Right at the end, Shane Sutherland had an effort well saved by the keeper to keep the score level. Final score 1–1<ref></</ref>

Dundee United (Home)