Dunfermline Ath 0-1 Hearts

Pospisil fired home against the early run of play after a Bruno Aguiar corner, but Hearts then dominated.

Goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie blocked from Paul Hartley then turned a Pospisil header on to the Pars crossbar.

Dunfermline improved after the break, but Jim Hamilton squandered their best chance from eight yards.

Scott Morrison had been promoted from the home bench in place of the absent Scott Muirhead, while McKenzie replaced the injured Dorus de Vries.

Lee Wallace and Calum Elliot came into Hearts' starting line-up ahead of Takis Fyssas and Andrius Velicka.

But it was Dunfermline who were the brighter side early on and Souleymane Bamba had an opportunity when he pounced on Christophe Berra's mistake and asked an early question of goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Stevie Crawford failed to take advantage of another chance as the home side again went in search of an early goal.

But the opener went Hearts' way in the 15th minute.

Czech striker Pospisil converted a corner from the left taken by Aguiar, having been given too much freedom by the Dunfermline defence.

Hearts took control but temporarily lost their fluency when Ross Wallace was forced off after 31 minutes through injury, with Fyssas being the replacement.

However, Paul Hartley should have done better than have his effort blocked by McKenzie after being sent clear by Saulius Mikoliunas.

And McKenzie pulling off a superb reaction save to knock a Pospisil header on to the bar and away to safety.

Stephen Kenny brought Owen Morrison on for the injured Gary Mason at half-time, while striker Hamilton replaced defender Greg Shields as the Dunfermline boss adopted a more attacking system.

But Hearts forced three quick corners as the visitors continued their dominance, with Zaliukas firing wide from 12 yards.

And Elliot, back in the Hearts side after returning from his spell on loan with Motherwell, headed just over.

Dunfermline showed they could still be dangerous, a Crawford snap-shot requiring a save from Gordon.

Darren Young, booked in the first half, was lucky not to be shown a second yellow card for a bodycheck.

Stephen Simmons fired a drive straight at Gordon, while Elliot shot wide at the other end.

Hamilton squandered a good chance when he fired straight at the goalkeeper from eight yards.

Late Dunfermline pressure failed to produce an equaliser and McKenzie prevented Hearts extended their lead with a save to deny Elliot.

Dunfermline: McKenzie, Shields (Hamilton 46), McGuire, Wilson, Scott Morrison, Bamba (Ross 71), Mason (Owen Morrison 46), Young, Simmons, Crawford, Burchill.
Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Tod, Woods, Williamson.

Booked: Young, Crawford.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson (McCann 81), Zaliukas, Berra, Wallace (Fyssas 31), Mikoliunas (Barasa 63), Aguiar, Hartley, Elliot, Pospisil, Driver.
Subs Not Used: Banks, Bednar, John Armstrong, Karipidis.

Goal: Pospisil 16.

Att: 7,004

Ref: C Thomson

Taken from the BBC