Dunfermline Athletic 0 Heart of Midlothian 1
Betfred Cup – Saturday 18th August 2018 – East End Park
Hearts progressed to the last eight of the Betfred Cup after a narrow win over Championship side Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park on Saturday.
A fine strike from Olly Lee eleven minutes from the end was enough to ensure Craig Levein’s men avenged last season’s elimination from this competition when the Pars progressed at the Jambos’ expense.
Aaron Hughes replaced long-term injury victim Christophe Berra while Steven MacLean was preferred up front to last week’s match winner against Celtic, Kyle Lafferty.
Hearts were made to work hard for their win with the home side edging first half proceedings. Tynecastle keeper ‘Bobby’ Zlamal was the hero this week with three brilliant saves. However, it was Olly Lee who scored with a low drive as the game reached its conclusion to the delight of the travelling Maroon Army, of whom there were more than 4,500.
Hearts will now take their place in Sunday’s draw for the quarter-finals.
Dunfermline: Robinson, Craigen, J. Longridge, Devine, Durnan, Ashcroft, Williamson, Vincent, El Bakhtaoui, L. Longridge, Hippolyte.
Hearts: Zlamal, M. Smith, Souttar, Haring, Lee, Naismith, Hughes (Bozanic, 46′), Garuccio, MacLean, Ikpeazu (Lafferty, 69′), Mulraney (Morrison, 77′).
Referee: Bobby Madden
Attendance: 8,601
Top man: ‘Bobby’ Zlamal
Author of The Team for Me - 50 Years of Following Hearts. Runs Mind Generating Success, a successful therapy practice in Edinburgh. Contact me if you want rid of any unwanted habits. Twitter @Mike1874
