Hearts came from behind to beat Dunfermline 2-1 and progress into the Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-finals.
Stewart nets penalty winner after Glen equalises Bayne opener
Hearts came from behind to beat Dunfermline 2-1 at Tynecastle and progress into the Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-finals.
Graham Bayne put the First Division side ahead in the 15th minute before Gary Glen equalised for the Premier League outfit 11 minutes after the re-start.
Michael Stewart then scored the winner in the 73rd minute via the penalty spot after Neil McGregor was adjudged to have fouled David Obua.
Hearts had struggled to penetrate the Pars defence after losing Andrew Driver to injury before the game, with Glen coming in to support defender Ismael Bouzid up front.
Dunfermline have lost their last three league matches without scoring a goal but they started confidently and Hearts centre-back Jose Goncalves got away with a strong penalty-box barge on Nicky Phinn.
Greg Ross ran on to Scott Muirhead's long throw but he failed to get enough purchase on his volley and Janos Balogh saved.
But Hearts were behind in the 15th minute when Bayne ran on to Ross' reverse pass and fired a shot that Balogh let slip through his body.
Hearts continued to struggle with Glen seeing little of the ball and Bouzid unable to hold it up.
Tactics
Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre's 4-2-3-1 formation was getting the better of Hearts boss Csaba Laszlo's tactics, while central midfielders Graeme Holmes and Alex Burke were impressing with and without the ball.
However Hearts did create some first-half chances from set-pieces as Dunfermline sat deeper.
Zaliukas headed home Craig Thomson's 35th-minute free-kick but the offside flag was raised and the Lithuanian volleyed well over from the same source a minute later.
Burke cleared Obua's header off the line following right-back Thomson's corner and Greg Fleming blocked the Uganda midfielder's follow-up.
Obua then turned provider with a long throw that fell to Glen, but his acrobatic volley just cleared the crossbar.
Hearts lost Lee Wallace to injury at half-time, with Ian Black coming on as the support striker and Bouzid going back into defence.
Dunfermline centre-back Andy Dowie was fortunate to avoid punishment for a penalty-box block on Suso Santana that looked at least an obstruction.
Glen then netted the equaliser in the 56th minute when he deftly headed home Obua's delivery after the midfielder had retrieved an overhit cross.
Complained bitterly
McIntyre complained bitterly on the touchline, apparently over Obua's challenge on Callum Woods when the original cross came in.
Dunfermline re-emerged as an attacking force and Balogh parried a powerful effort from substitute Joe Cardle at his near post.
Thomson was not far away with a 45-yard chip after seeing Fleming off his line but Hearts soon took the lead.
McGregor gave the ball away to Obua but appeared to have recovered possession with a shoulder charge on the Hearts midfielder.
However, referee Brian Winter pointed to the spot and Stewart sent Fleming the wrong way.
Dunfermline then pushed forward in the closing stages but Hearts held on to go through to the quarter-finals.
