Hearts 0 Dunfermline 0

Last updated : 01 February 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Hearts took a giant leap towards a European place with a 3-0 trouncing of their nearest competitors Dunfermline.

Having been humiliated last week in the Scottish Cup when Falkirk beat them 4-0 the Tynecastle side have bounced back in some style with back to back wins over Aberdeen and Dunfermline.

This result takes them seven points clear of the Pars with Kilmarnock now their nearest challengers in fourth place.

Man-of-the-match Phil Stamp pulled all the strings for Hearts in midfield whilst Gary Wales was a real thorn in the side of Dunfermline's defence and Steven Pressley was his usual immaculate self at the back.

All in all Hearts had too much for Dunfermline to cope with and after Scott Severin sent a diving header past Derek Stillie the home side never looked back.

Wales grabbed his second important goal of the week four minutes after the interval when he skipped between Scott Walker and Scott Wilson before slipping a low finish into the bottom corner.

Dunfermline's cause was further hindered when Wilson was sent off for a second booking and Hearts took full advantage when stand-in striker Kevin McKenna stabbed home the third from close range in injury time.