Hearts' Cup dream still alive as Pars pay the penalty

Hearts progressed to the Quarter Final stage of the Co-Operative Insurance Cup after coming from behind to defeat First Division side Dunfermline Athletic, in an unconvincing performance at Tynecastle.

The Pars' fans had travelled across the Forth in good numbers, and the away side gave their supporters plenty to cheer about in the early stages, more than holding their own against their SPL opponents and taking the lead after 14 minutes. A lovely reverse ball from Greg Ross inside Hearts' left fullback, Lee Wallace, sent Graeme Bayne through on goal, and Bayne did not waste his opportunity, striking low to the goalkeeper’s right.

Hearts appeared to be rattled by this early goal, and were unable to present any threat to a solid Dunfermline defence. This was underlined on 26 minutes, when Dunfermline centre half Andy Dowie was able to flick a back-header to his own goalkeeper from his own six-yard line under no pressure from Hearts strikeforce. Dunfermline were comfortable in possession and with their lead.

Hearts’ first shot on goal came on the half hour mark, and summed up their play in a poor first half, as David Obua’s ambitious volley sailed high over Fleming’s cross bar. Andy Dowie went down with a head knock soon after, and the Hearts fans took their opportunity to let their heroes know that the performance was not good enough.

This seemed to spark the home side into action, and Hearts began to threaten. They had the ball in the net on 35 minutes, through Zaliukas, though the defender was deemed to have been offside.

Five minutes later, a goalmouth scramble in the Dunfermline six-yard box saw Obua’s strike cleared off the line, before Gary Glen’s acrobatic attempt flew inches over Fleming’s cross bar in the last chance of a first half.

Hearts equalised within ten minutes of the re-start, after David Obua made his way down the left wing, and crossed for Gary Glen to nod home from six yards out.

Dunfermline did not crumble, and although Hearts exerted greater pressure, the Pars forced a corner midway through the second half. Balogh came for the ball, but got nowhere near it, prompting howls of anguish from the Gorgie faithful, as a Dunfermline forward only narrowly missed out on making contact at the back post.

Only a few minutes later, Hearts claimed the lead. Obua went down in the box under the challenge of Neil McGregor, who was booked for his indiscretion in what appeared a soft penalty award from referee Brian Winter. Dunfermline’s Greg Ross was also booked for his part in the ensuing fracas, as he took his protestations further than Winter was prepared to tolerate. Hearts Captain, Michael Stewart, stepped up to send Fleming the wrong way from 12 yards, and put his side into the lead.

Hearts were energised by their second goal, and looked more impressive as the match wore on. Dunfermline struggled to make any headway, and introduced ex-Hearts players Andy Kirk and Austin McCann in an attempt to find an equaliser. There were half chances for the away side, but nothing clear-cut as the home side Hearts held on comfortably and moved forward to the quarter final stage.