Dunfermline Atheltic 0-2 Heart of Midlothian

Goals in each half from Andy Webster and Rudi Skacel meant the Jambos left East End Park with all three points and their second victory on the bounce.

Manager Paulo Sergio saw fit to stick with the team that defeated Celtic 2-0 at Tynecastle two weeks previous, with only the returning Marian Kello coming into the side which meant Jamie MacDonald had to settle for a place on the bench.

The opening stages of the match saw the home team press the Hearts goal, yet from thereon in it was the Jambos who took control of proceedings. On 12 minutes Skacel threaded a pass through to David Templeton, whose shot from inside the box was pushed round the post by Paul Gallagher.

Hearts were forced into a change after 22 minutes when Ian Black took a nasty knock whilst putting in a typically robust challenge. He was replaced by summer signing Mehdi Taouil.

Taouil made an immediate impact, dinking a ball over the top for Templeton to run on to, he sent over an inviting cross which took a ricochet off two Dunfermline players and just whizzed past the advancing Ryan Stevenson and out of the danger zone.

It took until the fortieth minute for Hearts to threaten their hosts' goal again. Skacel took the ball down 30 yards from goal and unleashed a fierce drive that sent Gallagher scrambling across his goal to palm the ball out for a corner.

And it was from that resultant corner that Hearts broke the deadlock. Danny Grainger's in-swinger took an awkward bounce in the six yard box and Webster popped up to head home the game's opening goal. Webster's second goal of the season and Hearts were looking good value for their lead.

The second half started much the same as the first. Dunfermline attempted to get a foot back in the game but it was the Jambos who looked more comfortable, and ten minutes in Templeton sent over an inch perfect cross from the left onto the head of Stevenson, though his placed header flew straight into the arms of Gallagher.

It wasn't until the 70th minute that Kello had a save to make. Ryan Thomson's cross-cum-shot forced the Slovakia cap to tip the ball over the bar. From the following corner the Hearts number one had to act fast to block a Gary Mason shot at his near post.

With fifteen minutes left to play the Gorgie men had another chance to double their lead. The impressive Skacel sent Templeton clear on the left hand side of the box, the Scotland Under 21 star's curling shot just flew wide of Gallagher's left hand post.

A minute later Hearts got the second goal that they deserved. Templeton played a neat one-two with Stevenson and found himself deep in the Pars' box. He pulled the trigger and looked certain to score but Gallagher pulled off a great save but couldn't hold onto the ball and Skacel was on hand to sweep the ball into an empty net. Second goal in as many games for Skacel and Hearts looked to be on easy street.

Paulo Sergio made a couple of changes as legs began to tire. David Obua and John Sutton were introduced to the field of play in the place of goal hero Skacel and the dangerous Stevenson.

The game then petered out as Dunfermline were unable to muster any sort of comeback, and Hearts were worthy winners of the game, which was their first away win since February. The Gorgie men must now maintain their recent impressive performances when Rangers visit Tynecastle next Sunday.

Dunfermline: Gallagher, Dowie, Potter, McCann, Burns, Boyle, Thomson (Willis), Mason, Graham, Kirk (Clarke), Cardle (Buchanan). Subs not used: Smith, McDougall, Easton, Young

Hearts: Kello; Hamill, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Black (Taouil), Mrowiec; Jonsson; Skacel (Obua), Templeton; Stevenson (Sutton). Subs not used: MacDonald, Novikovas, Robinson, Smith.

Referee: Stevie O'Reilly

Top man: Rudi Skacel

Hearts World