SPL: Dunfermline 0 Hearts 2

Oct 16 2011 David Rinaldi, Sunday Mail

HEARTS hitman Rudi Skacel gunned down Dunfermline - then urged his team-mates to go on a long winning run.

The Czech ace bagged the crucial second 14 minutes from time after Andy Webster's first-half header had put them ahead.

It was their first win on the road since February and their first two in a row under Portuguese boss Paulo Sergio.

Now Skacel is determined to keep the run going when league leaders Rangers visit the capital on Sunday.

The 32-year-old said: "We hadn't won in a long time but we've now won two in a row.

"That gives us confidence and we want to keep a run like this going.

"We can now focus on a big game next week against Rangers."

Sergio was also pleased with his club's first away victory of the campaign and insists he will take winning ugly every week if it means three points.

He said: "We won 2-0 but it wasn't an easy game because we had to work a lot. It was ugly and we didn't give them chances.

"We were responsible and focused and I'm happy with the boys but there's still a lot to improve on.

"I'm happy to get the first away win as we didn't show enough desire to win in the other away games.

"Victories give everyone confidence and you want to win playing nice football.

"But football is all about winning and, while you try to do both, it comes first."

Both sides came into this contest on the back of contrasting fortunes before the international break. Pars had lost their previous two clashes to Aberdeen and Rangers, while the Jambos beat Celtic 2-0 at home in their last outing.

But the Fifers started brightly and Andy Kirk was inches away from converting a Joe Cardle free-kick at the back stick early on.

However, Hearts battled back and only a block from John Potter denied David Templeton after the winger had burst into the home box in 12 minutes.

Sergio's side suffered a blow soon after when Ian Black took a knock to the head and was replaced by Mehdi Taouil.

Skacel forced home keeper Paul Gallacher into a great tip around the post with a scorching low drive from 20 yards just before the interval. But from the corner the capital club broke the deadlock. Kirk failed to clear Danny Grainger's low inswinger at the front post and Webster stooped to find the net from six yards.

The second half took a while to get going but Ryan Stevenson forced a solid stop from Gallacher on the hour after getting his head to a Templeton cross.

Pars boss Jim McIntyre brought on Liam Buchanan for Cardle moments later as they went to a 3-5-2 in search of a leveller.

And Paul Burns almost got it with a curler from the angle of the box that sailed just wide. At the other end Templeton went close with a similar effort.

But with 14 minutes left Skacel slotted home the second. Stevenson fed Templeton but Gallacher could only beat his shot into the path of Skacel who fired past despairing Pars skipper Austin McCann.

Taken from the Daily Record