THE GAFFER NOSE BEST

DUNFERMLINE 1 HEARTS 4

MICHAL POSPISIL buried sorry Dunfermline with a deadly double - then claimed he's never had to bury the hatchet with boss Graham Rix.

Rumours have been rife of a rift between Rix and Hearts' Czech striker since the gaffer hooked him at half-time in his first game in charge at Pittodrie then dropped him altogether.

But Pospisil insists there has never been a problem between the pair and told how Rix predicted he would floor Pars with the goals he needs to hammer home his case for a regular starting slot.

And he didn't disappoint, bagging the second-half brace that killed off a Dunfermline fightback and keeps them rooted in relegation trouble.

Pospisil said: "This was important to me. I have always been used to playing regularly in the starting 11 so it's been a difficult time and to score two means a lot.

"There are so many strikers here it's hard to say you should be starting every week but I have made my case today.

"I have a good relationship with the manager. He explained the situation to me about a month ago and since then we have not discussed it.

"I have just got on with my job of trying to convince him to play me.

"He told me 'Michal, I smell goals today,' and I am pleased he was right."

Punished

Hearts were worthy winners but that's no thanks to an unconvincing first half when they were almost punished for a sluggish start with a goal in the opening minute.

Greg Ross' lovely curling delivery from the right begged to be attacked and Andy Tod obliged, rising above Steven Pressley only to see his effort skim an inch over.

Worse was to come as a defensive mix-up between Pressley and keeper Craig Gordon almost gifted Pars an opener in 23 minutes.

The skipper tried to steward a loose ball back to his goalie as Mark Burchill gave chase. But with Gordon coming out to claim it, Pressley changed his mind and pushed a passback far too hard for his onrushing team-mate.

The result was a catastrophic fumble that squirted to Burchill - and with Gordon stranded outside his area he did well to make a crucial stop with his body.

Burchill's looping second attempt was headed off the line by Pressley and Hearts breathed again.

But any embarrassment for the Scotland defender soon faded as he put Hearts ahead for the second game in a row.

His 28th-minute strike came from Paul Hartley's free-kick into the box, pounced upon by Calum Elliot whose shot was going wide until Pressley popped up at the back post to divert it home from six yards.

It was Pressley's sixth goal of the season in his 300th game for Hearts - cause for celebration but Elliot overdid it and copped the first booking for booting the ball back into the net, unwittingly hitting keeper Allan McGregor.

The goal reinforced Jambos' growing momentum and Pospisil and Andy Webster came close with headers.

Dunfermline made a half-time switch with Lee Makel replaced by Bartosz

Tarachulski and within five minutes of the restart Hearts were denied a decent penalty claim. Noel Hunt made a typically reckless striker's tackle, lunging at Saulius Mikoliunas as he burst forward on the 18-yard line.

There's little doubt the Northern Irishman clipped him but Miko did himself no favours with a needless swan dive and probably swayed ref Craig Mackay's decision.

It wasn't long though before the visitors extended their lead thanks to a neat move in 54 minutes.

Mikoliunas and Robbie Neilson combined on the right flank and the Scot's clever ball inside was perfect for Pospisil driving into the box to crash first time inside the left post.

Yet just when it seemed Hearts would cruise to victory Pars blasted back four minutes later.

Pressley earned a booking for cynically holding back Tarachulski deep in midfield. The free-kick was pumped high and fell to Burchill prowling the area unchecked.

Cushion

His rapid finish almost burst the net and the hosts saw an equaliser by Ross correctly chopped off two minutes later for a foul on Webster.

The fightback was shortlived as Hearts restored their two-goal cushion in 67 minutes with Pospisil the hero.

Hartley's perfect cross from the left was met by the Czech's looping header that dipped under the bar.

There was no way back for Pars and Rix gave debuts to new boys Nerius Barasa for Mikoliunas and at the death Lee Johnson for Julien Brellier.

But before that the Frenchman had a key role in Hearts' killer fourth with nine minutes left.

His through ball was met by Skacel racing into the area and he slotted his 15th goal of the season.

Pars boss Jim Leishman groaned: "We reacted well when they got the second but all credit to Hearts - they were the better team. "I'm disappointed to lose four at home."

Taken from the Sunday Mail