Hearts 2-0 Dunfermline Ath

Pressley sad at Burley departure Burley in shock exit from Hearts

SPL leaders Hearts did not let the shock news of manager George Burley's departure affect them as they continued their unbeaten run at Tynecastle.

Rudi Skacel drove in a wonderful shot from 20 yards for his ninth goal of the season after 21 minutes.

Two minutes later, Michal Pospisil curled a left-footed shot from 16 yards into the far corner of the net.

Hearts skipper Steven Pressley was sent off in the final minutes of a dull second half for a professional foul.

The game was almost lost after the news that Burley had left Hearts, leaving Tynecastle coach John McGlynn in charge.

There was, unsurprisingly, a strange atmosphere at kick-off but the Gorgie men were immediately in control.

In the third minute midfielder Skacel's low drive from the edge of the Pars penalty area was deflected onto the bar before the Czech's corner was headed just over by fellow countryman Pospisil.

The home side's pressure was incessant and in the 10th minute Brazilian midfielder Samuel Camazzola drove an angled shot from 16 yards over the bar.

In the 20th minute the Pars mounted a rare attack and midfielder Darren Young drove in a 25 yard snap-shot which fizzed just past the post.

However, a minute later Skacel picked up the ball and fired a fantastic strike past the helpless Alan McGregor.

The confidence drained from the Fifers immediately and in the 24th minute Pospisil made it 2-0 when he took a Camazzola pass and curled home a sweet finish.

Major shareholder Vladimir Romanov celebrates at Tynecastle

Ex-Jambos striker Mark Burchill reacted first to an in-swinging free-kick from Lee Makel but his head-flick from 12 yards out went a yard past the far post.

And in the 44th minute McGregor did very well to touch a dipping Pospisil shot from the edge of the box onto the bar.

In the 71st minute Makel tried his luck with a 20-yard drive which cleared Craig Gordon's bar.

But moments later hearts substitute Deividas Cesnauskis came closer with a left-footed shot from distance which shaved McGregor's right-hand post.

Skacel then sliced his left-footed shot wide from 14 yards after linking up well with Paul Hartley.

The Scottish international was substituted for Jamie McAllister and pulled off his shirt to reveal a T-shirt saying 'for the gaffer'.

To cap a tumultuous day for Hearts, Pressley was given a straight red card for hauling back Pars substitute McCunnie at the edge of the box.

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Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Fyssas, Camazzola (Cesnauskis 70), Brellier, Hartley (McAllister 90), Skacel, Pospisil (Elliot 80), Jankauskas. Subs Not Used: Banks, Mikoliunas, Neill, Tall.

Sent Off: Pressley (90). Goals: Skacel 21, Pospisil 23.

Dunfermline: McGregor, Shields, Scott Wilson (Tod 47), Thomson, Horsted (McCunnie 68), Darren Young, Makel, Mason, Derek Young (Donnelly 67), Burchill, Zambernardi. Subs Not Used: Halliwell, Ross, Campbell, Tarachulski.

Booked: Darren Young, Thomson.

Att: 16,500

Ref: C Murray