Hearts produced a five-star display to restore their Bank of Scotland Premier League challenge with a comfortable win over Falkirk at Tynecastle.

Scotland international Paul Hartley opened the scoring in the 20th minute before Bairns midfielder Stephen O'Donnell was dismissed for a second bookable offence three minutes later.

Rudi Skacel made it 2-0 in the 25th minute before Calum Elliot scored his first goal for the club four minutes before the interval.

Substitute Michal Pospisil added a fourth in the 73rd minute before Elliot grabbed his second in the dying seconds.

The hosts made a blistering start to the game and could have been two-up after a mere three minutes.

Falkirk goalkeeper Matt Glennon made a great reaction save in palming away Elliot's low shot.

Skacel was then gifted a sight of goal after catching out Craig Ireland with his header back to Glennon but the Czech Republic international failed to capitalise.

Darryl Duffy was presented with an opportunity following a mistake by Takis Fyssas but his low shot from an acute ankle smacked against Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon's legs.

But the match briefly turned ugly when O'Donnell lunged at Steven Pressley in a late tackle which earned him a booking.

Hearts striker Edgaras Jankauskas was guilty of missing a sitter in the 13th minute after Elliot found him with a pinpoint cross.

But, after controlling the ball on his chest, the Lithuanian's tame shot landed in Glennon's arms.

The home side finally broke the deadlock in the 20th minute following a goalmouth scramble, which saw Hartley pounce on a loose ball to slot home after Glennon failed to clear.

Falkirk's problems increased when O'Donnell was given his marching orders after picking up a second booking for a late challenge on Julien Brellier in the 23rd minute.

Hearts then ran amok and added a second in the 25th minute thanks to a trademark Skacel goal - his 15th of the season.

The winger sprinted across the 18-yard box before drilling a left-footed shot beyond Glennon high into the net.

Elliot added a third in the 41st minute after pouncing on an Andy Lawrie error inside the box to pass the ball into the net in the six-yard box.

In the second half, Rix brought on Pospisil for Jankauskas who immediately walked up the tunnel, clearly disappointed at being replaced.

The Czech striker made his mark too as he notched number four in the 73rd minute.

Deividas Cesnauskis' cross was perfect for the marksman who bulleted a header past Glennon from 12 yards.

Hearts completed a five-star show in injury time as Elliot notched his brace with a superb strike from the edge of the box.

Teams:

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Fyssas, Cesnauskis, Hartley (McAllister 78), Brellier (MacFarlane 65), Skacel, Elliot, Jankauskas (Pospisil 69).

Subs Not Used: Banks, Simmons, Berra, Wallace.

Booked: Cesnauskis.

Goals: Hartley 20, Skacel 25, Elliot 41, Pospisil 73, Elliot 90.

Falkirk Glennon, Lawrie, Ireland, Milne, McPherson, Gow (Moutinho 63), Lima, Scally, O'Donnell, Latapy (Steven Thomson 53), Duffy (McBreen 68).

Subs Not Used: Ferguson, McStay, Rodrigues, O'Neil.

Sent Off: O'Donnell (23).

Booked: O'Donnell, Lima, Milne, Steven Thomson, McBreen.

Att: 16,538

Ref: S Dougal (Scotland).