The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Hearts floored by Pars’ quick double
Dun ferm l ine shocked title favourites Hearts last night as they won 2-1 at East End Park to go top of the Championship.
The Pars, via quick-fire second-half strikes from Dom Thomas and Euan Murray, leapfrogged rivals Raith in the standings to blow the second-tier title race wide open.
A Stephen Kingsley header pulled one back for the visitors but it wasn’t enough.
The Pars showed five changes from their 3-2 Betfred Cup win over Clyde last Saturday with Owain Fon Williams, Lewis Mayo, Steven Whittaker, Kyle Turner and Thomas coming in.
For the Jambos, Craig Gordon, Michael Smith, Craig Halkett, Stephen Kingsley, Andy Halliday, Liam Boyce and Steven Naismith all returned to give Robbie Neilson’s side a strong-looking starting XI.
With the match underway for a fleeting moment, Kerr McInroy launched into Olly Lee wi t h a thunderous challenge as the Fifers set the tone.
It seemed e ve n this division’s finest, of which Dunfermline can consider themselves a part going by early season form, will be more than prepared to harangue favourites Hearts.
H o w e v e r, midfield generals Lee, Halliday and the unorthodoxlypositioned skipper Naismith remained composed and free of fluster as they marshalled proceedings for Hearts.
Mihai Popescu, however, didn’t get the memo about the sheer nuisance that is Pa r s frontman Declan McManus. His barge on the Romanian defender led to Turner curling a left-foot effort narrowly astray on 10 minutes.
Po p e s c u nearly got revenge a few minutes later as he crashed a header off Fon Williams’ bar from a pinpoint Frear free-kick.
At the other end, Pars midfield anchor Whittaker
latched onto Thomas’ delivery and clipped into Gordon’s side-netting.
On 21 minutes, like he did twice against Dundee on opening day, Kingsley attempted to curl home a deadball but, this time, could only steer his effort past the post.
Mayo, Whittaker and Ryan Dow’s neat interplay was causing the capital club problems down their left side. However, entering the second quarter of the clash it was very much an even contest.
Celtic loanee McInroy was impressing in the middle, covering swathes of East End Park, trying to suffocate Hearts.
However, the Edinburgh outfit did find room to breathe in little pockets and Lee blasted a stinger wide on 32 minutes before dazzling Thomas footwork picked out Dow but he could only scoop over.
Going into the half, Gordon terrifically denied Pars captain Murray from close range before being flagged offside and Naismith fired through a
crowd in the box but into Fon Williams’ arms.
Craig Wighton joined Boyce up front for the second period as Neilson altered his side to a traditional 4-4-2.
No system or formation could stop what happened next, however, as the Pars opened the scoring on 49 minutes through Thomas.
Chopping in from the right, the winger fired into the top corner from the edge of the area, aided by a huge deflection off Popescu’s knee leaving Gordon stranded.
Dunfermline smelled blood and continued their assault on the Hearts 18yard box as they made it 2-0 on 54 minutes.
From Thomas’ corner, Pars captain Murray rose highest and nodded home powerfully to give Stevie Crawford’s side a cushion.
On the hour mark, the Jam Tarts had a glorious opportunity to get back into the match as Northern Irishmen Smith and Boyce linked up with the latter tw i c e denied by Fo n Williams.
A succession of corners eventually saw Popescu crack the crossbar again, this time from a Halliday delivery.
The excellent McInroy had a decent opportunity to extend the home side’s lead further but could only drag his strike wide.
Racing free on 70 minutes, Hearts skipper Naismith, with the goal gaping, inexplicably elected to pass to Jordan Roberts as Dunfermline tracked back and the chance to pull one back was gone.
Soon after, McInroy fired wide once more, before the Pars passed up a gilt-edge opening to make it three as McManus and Mayo couldn’t convert from close range.
Hearts pulled one back with six minutes remaining as Kingsley connected with substitute Andy Irving’s corner to nod past Fon Williams.
Ho w e v e r, it wasn’ t enough for the men in maroon, who couldn’t find an equaliser despite five minutes of added time, as they remain third.