Steven Pressley's second-half penalty decided a poor Bank of Scotland Premier
League clash at Dunfermline to catapult the Edinburgh side towards the UEFA Cup
next season.
The Hearts skipper, courtesy of some quality play from striker Mark de Vries,
sent the Jambos 10 points clear of fourth-placed Kilmarnock after Lee Bullen had
fouled the Dutchman.
The Ayrshire side have a game in hand on their rivals but, with just four
games left, Craig Levein's men are all-but assured of their tickets to Europe.
As expected Hearts started full of confidence after last week's dramatic
last-gasp victory over UEFA Cup finalists Celtic and were the first side to
threaten.
Lee Bullen was lucky not to be booked in the fifth minute after pulling down
de Vries as he threatened to get away following Andy Webster's forward ball.
From the resulting free-kick, the striker was just inches from getting a touch
to Jean-Louis Valois' cross and Phil Stamp fired over.
Dunfermline strikers Stephen Crawford and Craig Brewster struggled to get into
the game and it was the David Grondin who let fly with their first shot which
sailed well over.
But Hearts always had an extra gear and De Vries looked in the mood to give
the Pars defenders a torrid time.
He again left Bullen for dead before hitting a low right-foot shot, but it was
comfortably saved by Marco Ruitenbeek.
Dunfermline had the chance to apply some pressure of their own in the 22nd
minute after Stamp had tripped Steven Hampshire.
The home side, however, wasted the chance as Bullen rose at the back post and
headed harmlessly wide from Mark McGarty's cross.
Crawford showed some individual skill to cut inside Scotland team-mate
Pressley but Webster reacted quickly to block his shot from just six yards.
Webster and Pressley almost gifted the home side a chance after a mix-up just
outside the box in the 40th minute, but Grondin again fired wide.
Hampshire fired into the hands of Tepi Moilanen in the final minute of the
half after Crawford had pulled the ball back from the by-line.
Dunfermline manager Jimmy Calderwood attempted to give his side a much-needed
spark in the 53rd minute when he brought livewire Noel Hunt on for Brewster.
It seemed both teams needed help to break the deadlock and Bullen gifted
Hearts a penalty with a clumsy challenge on de Vries as he twisted away from him
in the box.
Referee Kenny Clark had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Pressley
stepped up to send Ruitenbeek the wrong way.
Webster was then booked before de Vries was denied his second goal of the
match as Clark ruled out his goal for handball.
He was forced to leave the pitch moments later after he appeared to pull his
hamstring and he was replaced by Kevin McKenna while Andy Kirk also came on for
Graeme Weir.
Kirk almost secured the points with a right-foot blast, from a tight angle in
the 85th minute, which Ruitenbeek did well to push away.
The keeper again tried his best to keep his side in the game by brilliantly
turning substitute McKenna's shot around the post.
But Dunfermline were dead and buried a long time ago while while Hearts' dream
of a European adventure next season were alive and kicking.
Teams:
Dunfermline: Ruitenbeek, McGarty, Skerla, Bullen,
Grondin (Kilgannon 60), Nicholson, Mason, Hampshire,
Dair (Walker 71), Crawford, Brewster (Hunt 53).
Subs Not Used: Murdoch, MacPherson.
Hearts: Moilanen, Maybury, Pressley, Webster, McCann,
MacFarlane, Severin, Stamp, Valois, de Vries (McKenna 64),
Weir (Kirk 64).
Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Boyack, Simmons.
Booked: Webster.
Goals: Pressley 57 pen.
Att: 6,968
Ref: K Clark (Scotland).
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