Edgaras Jankauskas struck a crucial late winner at Falkirk to keep Hearts on course for the Champions League.

After the sacking of head coach Graham Rix on Wednesday, the Jambos appeared to be heading for a single point at the Falkirk Stadium after Alan Gow cancelled out Paul Hartley's opener.

But Jankauskas came to the rescue with nine minutes remaining to keep Hearts six points ahead of Rangers in the battle for second place.

Interim boss Valdas Ivanauskas' hopes of landing his job on a full-time basis started with a victory but Falkirk head coach John Hughes was unfortunate not have moved a point closer to safeguarding their Bank of Scotland Premier League status.

Ivanauskas made one change from the side which drew with Rangers with Jose Goncalves coming in for the sick Andy Webster.

But, ahead of the Tennent's Scottish Cup semi-final with Hibernian next week, the non-appearance of skipper Steven Pressley after the break with a head injury was also a worry.

Hughes made five changes with Mark Howard, Karl Dodd, Tiago Rodrigues, Pedro Moutinho and Jean Lescinel all coming in.

Hearts did not look affected by the midweek events as they threatened in the fifth minute.

Goalkeeper Howard could only push Hartley's long-range strike into the danger area where Rudi Skacel was following up but the goalkeeper did well to turn his powerful 16-yard shot away.

Falkirk were making it difficult for the visitors, in a scrappy opening, by forcing two successive corners in the 15th minute, but Pressley deflected Mark Twaddle's goalbound shot wide.

The skipper received treatment for a head knock after the second corner which must have given Ivanauskas some concern as his side soldiered on for a few minutes with 10 men.

Pressley was still off the pitch when Falkirk carved out a glorious opportunity to take the lead in the 22nd minute.

Liam Craig swung a great ball towards the edge of six-yard box where Tiago Rodrigues arrived only for the defender to send a glancing header inches past the far upright.

But Hearts made Falkirk pay seconds later as their captain eventually returned to action with a bandage around his head and a change of shirt after opening up a nasty wound.

Skacel found a burst of pace to go past Jack Ross and centre where Hartley arrived to steer the ball past Howard from seven yards out.

Referee Alan Freeland then decided to make his mark and booked Pressley for dissent.

The official then sparked controversy when he awarded Falkirk a penalty in the final minute of the half.

He adjudged Roman Bednar to have handled Gow's free-kick and pointed to the spot.

Gow stepped up himself and, although Craig Gordon made a great save, the Bairns forward followed up to force the ball into the roof of the net.

Hearts lost Pressley at the break and he was replaced by Christophe Berra, who slotted in alongside Goncalves.

But the game came to life in the 54th minute with both sides facing up to each other after some full-blooded challenges from Falkirk.

Julien Brellier went down theatrically under the tackle of Twaddle which earned him a yellow card from the referee.

The midfielder sought retribution and lunged at Craig with a shocking challenge which also saw his name taken.

Jankauskas joined the growing list of cautions for another late challenge before Ivanauskas brought on Calum Elliot for Skacel.

Freeland then booked for Moutinho for a push before Hughes replaced him in the 71st minute for Russell Latapy.

But Hearts snatched the lead again in the 81st minute when Elliot slipped the ball through to Jankauskas.

And, somehow, the Lithuania international forced the ball past on-loan Arsenal keeper Howard and into the far corner of the net.

Teams:

Falkirk Howard, Ross, Twaddle (McPherson 88), Rodrigues,Lescinel, Cregg, Thomson, Craig (O'Donnell 85), Dodds,Moutinho (Latapy 70), Gow.

Subs Not Used: Hill, Lawrie, Theobold, Lima.

Booked: Twaddle, Craig, Moutinho, Cregg.

Goals: Gow 45.

Hearts Gordon, Neilson (Petras 82), Fyssas,Pressley (Berra 50), Goncalves, Brellier, Cesnauskis, Hartley,Skacel (Elliot 64), Jankauskas, Bednar.

Subs Not Used: Banks, Camazzola, Mikoliunas, Aguiar.

Booked: Pressley, Neilson, Brellier, Jankauskas.

Goals: Hartley 22, Jankauskas 81.

Att: 5,966

Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).