DUNFERMLINE, Jul 29 (SW) - Czech striker Michal Pospisil struck with 12 minutes left to give Hearts a 2-1 win away to 10-man Dunfermline to start the 2006/07 Scottish Premier League season.

Hearts, who broke up the Old Firm last year by pipping Rangers to second place in the league, were coming off of a 3-0 win over Siroki Brijeg in Champions League qualifying on Wednesday.

However, Dunfermline started the stronger of the two sides at East End Park controlling possession and using the flanks to test the Hearts defense, but Roman Bednar tucked home a goal for Hearts in the 15th minute for an early lead to the visitors.

Neil McCann was unlucky not to extend Hearts' lead later in the opening half when he struck the crossbar, and that miss proved costly just after the hour mark when Stephen Simmons bundled over off of a corner kick to level for the Pars.

The Edinburgh side then fought back, but Dunfermline nearly went in front twice through Freddie Daquin and Calum Woods before Pospisil scored on the rebound in the 78th minute after Bruno Aguiar hit the bar on a free kick.

Dunfermline's chances of coming back were hindered two minutes later when Andy Tod, who came on as an early substitute for the injured Noel Whelan, was shown a red card for violent conduct on Julien Brellier.