Hearts open campaign with win

However, in the 77th minute Michal Pospisil grabbed the winner after Bruno Aguiar's free-kick had rebounded off the crossbar.

Dunfermline were reduced to 10 men moments later when substitute Andy Tod, who had replaced new signing Noel Whelan after five minutes, was shown his second yellow card of the game for a heavy challenge on Tynecastle midfielder Julien Brellier.

It was an eventful opening to the new campaign but there was no doubting the relief of the Hearts players - and their fans - at the final whistle. The match exploded from the first whistle, the early stages little more than a series of collisions and tackles as both side battled to gain the upper hand.

To the consternation of the home fans, Whelan's debut lasted no more than five minutes, the striker had apparently picked up an injury and was replaced by Tod.

Dunfermline were looking the more likely to grab the opener with the strength and pace of striker Freddie Daquin proving a handful for the visiting defence.

But in the 14th minute it was the visitors who opened their account for the season through striker Bednar after Pars keeper Roddy McKenzie seemed to hesitate for a moment.

Bednar, who had a header well saved by the former Livingston keeper seconds earlier, latched onto a Pospisil cross from the left and poked the ball past McKenzie from around six yards as the Fifers' number one seemed to be caught out of position.

Stunned Dunfermline rallied immediately but the prospect of finding two goals to win the game seemed remote even so early in the game.

In an increasingly tetchy game, the Edinburgh side were finding most of their joy down the left hand side and Pospisil and full-back Takis Fyssas both flashed crosses past McKenzie which begged for a finishing touch.

As the game approached the interval, with the breakneck pace showing no signs of abating, the visitors began to show their quality.

The Jambos' build-up play became more measured although pure power characterised Aguiar's snapshot from 30 yards in the 35th minute which McKenzie did well to beat away to safety.

In the 52nd minute the visitors almost doubled their lead after right-back Robbie Neilson eased up the wing and whipped in a terrific cross from the right over to the back post.

Wide-man Neil McCann, who had been rather subdued previously, stole in front of Pars defender Scott Wilson to reach the ball first, but his volley from eight yards crashed off the junction of bar and post and bounced out of the danger area.

But in the 62nd minute, seconds after Hearts keeper Craig Gordon had saved Simmons' hook-shot from close range, the former Hearts player equalised from the subsequent corner.

Muirhead's corner from the right came into the Gorgie side's packed six-yard box and Simmons glanced the ball with his head into the turf and up into the net, beating Aguiar on its way in.

The Edinburgh side were stung and moments later at the other end, Aguiar's corner from the left was headed over the bar by Bednar from close range. In the 71st minute Pars striker Daquin latched onto a poor header by Hearts stopper Christophe Berra and was left with only Gordon to beat.

However, after rounding the Jambos keeper, Daquin found he had taken the ball too wide, allowing the Gorgie defence to regroup and the danger was snuffed out.

But Dunfermline were on top now and Gordon had trouble with a powerful Calum Woods free-kick from distance, the Scotland keeper electing to punch clear instead of catching.

However, in the 77th minute the visitors were back in the lead again.

After debutant Sol Bamba had needlessly fouled Saulius Mikoliunas at the edge of the Dunfermline penalty area, Aguiar flighted a free-kick which cannoned off the bar.

Pospisil was on hand to stab the rebound in from close range although Christophe Berra was on hand to guide the ball over the line.

Two minutes later Dunfermline were reduced to 10 men when Tod, booked in the first half for a foul on Gordon, was shown a second yellow for a challenge on Brellier.

That incident effectively signalled the end of the home side's challenge although the Edinburgh side will have been glad to take maximum points on the opening day.