Hearts dictate dour game

16 Apr 1990

Dunfermline 0, Hearts 1

"I AM disappointed.

It's a pity we didn't have a corner or a shot at goal." Perhaps he was unaware of it, but there was a sound of sarcasm in the voice of Dunfermline manager Jim Leishman as he reviewed his side's performance against Hearts on Saturday.

However, it wasn't long before the events on the park had been forgotten.

"The boys will be judged over the whole season," he continued.

"If we stay up, then they will have done Dunfermline proud.

Only Grant Tierney's header midway in the first half threatened to blot Henry Smith's clean sheet in what was a dour game.

Dunfermline missed the promptings of Istvan Kozma as playmaker.

With only limited resources at their disposal, the Hungarian was moved up front to play in tandem with Ross Jack.

With the influence of Kozma subdued by a combination of this enforced change and the attentions of Craig Levein and Dave McPherson, Hearts were able to run what show there was.

Things may have been different if the chances had fallen to John Robertson, but by half-time Hearts' leading scorer was on his way to hospital for an x-ray on a damaged leg after having come off second best with Ian Westwater.

In the sixty-third minute, however, Hearts' persistence brought reward.

Dunfermline twice gave away possession, enabling John Colquhoun to cross from the left for McPherson to head home.

Colquhoun later left the field, unable to focus his eyes properly.

"He couldn't believe how we were playing," was how Alex MacDonald jokingly explained his winger's problem, but thought it nothing too serious.

The Hearts' manager continued: "I'm delighted with the win.

It has been a long, hard season, but the players never stopped battling.

Scott Crabbe did really well when he came on, and I'm pleased for big Davie scoring.

It's not often he gets up there -- maybe there was something wrong with his eyes as well."

Not many can have a laugh this late in a season.

Still, his side won.

DUNFERMLINE -- Westwater, Wilson, Nicholl, McCathie, Tierney, Rougvie, P Smith, Farningham, Jack, Irons, Kozma.

Substitutes -- Rafferty, Clark.

HEARTS -- Smith, McLaren, McKinlay, Levein, Berry, McPherson, Colquhoun, McKay, Robertson, Foster, Bannon.

Substitutes -- Crabbe, Kirkwood.

Referee -- G A Evans (Bishopbriggs).