Dunfermline 1 Hearts 0

Welcome to Scottish football, Mr Lazlo.

If the new man in the Hearts hotseat, Csaba Lazlo, thought he was in for an easy ride, he was given a rude awakening in this pre-season friendly at East End Park last night, writes Lars Niven.

The Jambos turned in a Jekyll and Hyde performance and their blushes were only spared by a second half fightback.

They probably would have won the game had it not been for two outstanding saves by Dunfermline keeper Paul Gallacher.

He denied Deividas Cesnauskis and David Templeton to see Jim McIntyre’s fledgling side home.

The Pars boss was rightly satisfied by his team’s showing.

They were sharp, committed and outfought and outplayed the SPL side in the first half and chased everything down in the second.

McIntyre said, “I’m very pleased.

“I thought the attitude and the commitment of the players was excellent.

“It was a great exercise for us, but we’ve still got a lot to do.”

Hearts carved out the opening chance in the first minute when skipper Christophe Berra flashed a header wide from a Michael Stewart corner.

The Pars absorbed everything the visitors threw at them, then slowly began to take charge.

They created some useful breaks, notably when a smart interception by Callum Woods set Kevin Harper off down the right. He skinned Lee Wallace, but his cross was easily mopped up by the Hearts defence.

Some neat play by Nick Phinn and Alex Burke led to a Pars corner, but Hearts cleared the danger.

Harper was credited with breaking the deadlock in the 23rd minute, but would probably admit he didn’t get the final touch, Hearts defender Wallace looking the most likely candidate.

Stephen Glass worked his way down the left and fired the ball into Steve Banks’ six-yard box.

Harper launched himself at the cross as Berra and Wallace closed in and, as Banks misjudged the situation, it appeared to come off Wallace and dribble over the line.

Moments later Glass had a shot charged down and then Banks had to look sharp to collect a Graham Bayne header.

The Pars had a penalty claim waved away in the 35th minute when Berra knocked Bayne off balance as he shaped to meet a Scott Muirhead cross.

The loudest first half cheer from the visiting support came when former Hibee Harper was dumped to the turf by Wallace.

In the second half Stewart spurned a glorious chance when he could only sclaff a shot wide.

Gallacher pulled off a superb fingertip save in the 63rd minute after a Cesnauskis shot clipped Muirhead’s foot and looked to be looping over the keeper’s head.

Somehow, the back-pedalling Gallacher managed to push the ball round his right-hand post.

He then denied Templeton with a fine one-handed stop that even had Hearts fans applauding.

The Jambos were also denied a penalty when Cesnauskis went down as he was about to let fly.

When asked if he thought Harper deserved the goal, McIntyre said, “It was great play by Stephen Glass and a great cross into the box and Kevin showed the desire to get on the end of it.”

As for Mr Lazlo, he was less than enthusiastic, saying, “Even friendly games I would like to win, but the concentration was not there.”

Attendance—1859.

Dunfermline—Gallacher, Woods, Wilson, Phinn, Thomson (Willis 76), McCann, Harper (McBride 85), Glass (McGregor 76), Burke, Bayne (White 85), Muirhead (Williamson 73). Subs not used—McIntyre, Reidford.

Hearts—Banks, Karipidis, Wallace, Berra, Zaliukas, Palazuelos, McGowan (Mole 45), Stewart, Glen (Husband 61), Cesnauskis, Ksanavicius (Templeton 70). Subs not used—McDonald, Brown.

Referee—Dougie McDonald.