Pospisil helps Heart stay in the party mood

James Stirling
Sunday April 9, 2006

Hearts celebrated 120 years at Tynecastle with a comfortable 4-0 home win over Dunfermline, keeping them three points clear of Rangers in the battle for the second Champions League spot.

First-half goals by Michal Pospisil, Roman Bednar and Saulius Mikoliunas gave the home team a convincing interval lead, which was the least they deserved for an impressive opening 45 minutes.

Hearts had a chance to open the scoring in each of the first two minutes and it took another four before they were ahead. A long throw from the right by defender Robbie Neilson evaded goalkeeper Allan McGregor in the six-yard box and Pospisil had the easiest of tasks to knock the ball in from close range.

In the 14th minute the home side double their lead and again Neilson was the architect. A cross from the right found Bednar, who looped in a header from 12 yards. There was little a stranded McGregor could have done, but he was at fault 11 minutes later for the third goal.

Neilson was involved again, laying a short pass back to Mikoliunas inside the penalty area. The Lithuania striker struck a decent angled shot, but McGregor was slow to react as the ball sped past his right foot and into the corner of the net.

The hapless visitors never looked like recovering, but looked set to retain their dignity by restricting the home side to one more goal, scored by substitute Juho Makela with eight minutes left. However, that was followed by a red card for youngster Greg Ross, for his challenge on man-of- the-match Bruno Aguiar.

Falkirk finally claimed their first home league win of the season, after a first-half strike from Jack Ross gave the Bairns all three points against Dundee United.

John Hughes' side had not won at home on league business since they clinched last season's First Division title against Ross County more than a year ago. The defeat means United's poor form on the road continues, with Craig Brewster's side now having failed to win in their past 11 away games.

In the other matches, Livingston came from behind to beat Inverness 2-1 for their first win since December, while Aberdeen beat Hibernian 1-0 at home.

Taken from the Scotsman