Championship leaders Hearts stretched their lead at the top of the table to 12 points with a comfortable win over a Cowdenbeath side short of several regulars.
The Fifers threatened for a spell after the break but lacked the killer touch in front of goal.
Without Jon Robertson, Callum Gallagher, Declan Hughes and Kudus Oyenuga it was going to be a difficult fixture for Cowden but late on in the match they created a couple of outstanding chances which could have made life tougher for the Tynecastle side had they been converted.
Eight minutes in a Lewis Milne pass gave Craig Johnston a chance but he delayed his shot and Danny Wilson cleared.
The league leaders had a good spell of pressure and on 13 minutes Brad McKay fired in a low shot which goalkeeper Robbie Thomson held. Then Callum Paterson tested the keeper with an angled 18-yarder.
As the Jambos continued to dominate, on 23 minutes Jamie Walker showed great control to gather Jordan McGhee’s cross and fired just wide.
On 25 minutes they took the lead.
The ball was again swept across from the Cowden right and this time James Keatings met it with his fierce shot.
Three minutes later the midfielder hit Thomson’s right hand post with a raking 25-yard free-kick.
Eight minutes from the break Nat Wedderburn was short with a pass-back but Walker was slow to react and the Cowden defender recovered to clear.
Cowdenbeath had been struggling to get in any shots but just before the break Sean Higgins laid on a chance for Lewis Milne, but he dragged his right foot effort wide.
Cowden made a change at the break with Liam Callaghan being replaced by striker Craig Sutherland.
The Fifers had the first shot of the second half when Milne tried his luck from all of 30 yards but Neil Alexander saved comfortably.
Then on 57 minutes Alexander came to the rescue for Hearts when Colin Marshall burst forward and his pass set up Sean Higgins whose low 18-yarder had the goalkeeper at full stretch.
On 63 minutes the leaders doubled their lead. Paterson showed tremendous control to gather the ball on the edge of the Cowdenbeath penalty area and fired a fine low shot into the net from 19 yards.
Cowden retaliated and a fine Milne run opened up the Hearts defence but from only 12 yards Sutherland fired wide.
Then with eight minutes left Sutherland headed straight at Alexander from only eight yards from a perfect Miller cross summing up the poor home finishing.