Dunfermline 0 Hearts 1

Czech striker Michal Pospisil's first goal in 11 matches earned Hearts victory over the Bank of Scotland Premier League's bottom side Dunfermline.

Despite a less than fluent performance, the Tynecastle side should have been more than one goal to the good at half-time after dominating the chances.

Despite a more even second half, there was no way back for the home side.

Scotland striker Paul Hartley was particularly wasteful for Hearts as he twice spurned one-on-one opportunities against home goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie.

However, the problems persist for Pars boss Stephen Kenny who has now seen his side fail to score in their last five outings.

Dunfermline had the first half-chance of the match when midfielder Souleymane Bamba had his dipping shot turned wide by Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon in the seventh minute.

The home side were left to rue that as Hearts took the lead in the 15th minute.

Phil McGuire's challenge on Andrew Driver gave away a corner and from Bruno Aguiar's low delivery Pospisil reacted first to convert a close-range chance.

Hearts began with seven Scots in their line-up although that was reduced to six in the 31st minute as full-back Lee Wallace left the field with an injury to be replaced by Greek defender Takis Fyssas.

Both sides struggled to string together any meaningful passages of play during an opening half which stuttered along and failed to ignite but Hearts stepped up the pressure as the half drew to a close.

Saulius Mikoliunas' deft through-ball on the break saw Hartley spring the offside trap, despite Dunfermline's protestations, but the Scotland midfielder allowed home goalkeeper McKenzie to narrow the angle and block his weak effort.

And Pospisil passed up a gilt-edged opportunity to grab a second in first-half injury-time.

Driver played in Fyssas on the overlap and his cross was perfect for the Czech striker, however his header was far too straight and McKenzie pulled off a superb reaction save to knock the effort onto the bar and away to safety.

Dunfermline manager Stephen Kenny reacted by making two positive alterations at the break.

Full-back Greg Shields and midfielder Gary Mason made way for winger Owen Morrison and striker Jim Hamilton, with Scott Morrison retreating to left-back and Darren Young switching flanks.

Owen Morrison injected some urgency into the home side's play and the match burst to life with chances at either end.

Calum Elliot glanced a header just over from Robbie Neilson's cross in the 53rd minute and then Stevie Crawford's low drive was held by Gordon after Hamilton's lay-off on the edge of the box.

Only two minutes later, Owen Morrison again caused problems as he speared his way into the area but his centre was behind an off-balance Hamilton and the substitute's effort flew across goal and wide.

Hearts had loud appeals for a penalty dismissed by referee Craig Thomson in the 70th minute when Hartley cut inside Young and found his path blocked by the Dunfermline defender.

However, it would have been a soft award had it been given and Hartley's protestations fell on deaf ears.

With 11 minutes remaining, Dunfermline should have equalised.

Owen Morrison's shot was headed clear by Christophe Berra but then returned to the danger area where it landed at Jim Hamilton's feet.

Unfortunately for the home side, the big striker's shot was weak and gladly grabbed by a relieved Gordon.

Hearts were left hanging on at the death and Greg Ross was only inches away from connecting with Mark Burchill's driven cross before Stephen Simmons had a shot blocked, but time eventually ticked away from the home side.

And Elliot almost grabbed a second goal for Hearts in injury-time, but his effort from a suspiciously offside position was blocked by McKenzie.

Teams

Dunfermline McKenzie, Shields (Hamilton 46), McGuire, Wilson,Scott Morrison, Bamba (Ross 71), Mason (Owen Morrison 46),Young, Simmons, Crawford, Burchill.

Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Tod, Woods, Williamson.

Booked: Young, Crawford.

Hearts Gordon, Neilson (McCann 81), Zaliukas, Berra,Wallace (Fyssas 31), Mikoliunas (Barasa 63), Aguiar, Hartley,Elliot, Pospisil, Driver.

Subs Not Used: Banks, Bednar, John Armstrong, Karipidis.

Goals: Pospisil 16.

Att: 7,004

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com