Lawrence Shankland celebrated his new three-year contract with a brace of penalties
Lawrence Shankland scored two penalties in three minutes as he re-announced himself at Tynecastle in Derek McInnes' first game as Hearts head coach, which ended in victory against Neil Lennon's Dunfermline Athletic in the Premier Sports Cup.
A stuffy second half, which was finely poised at 1-1, was undone when Alan Forrest was fouled by Deniz Mehmet in the box. The Pars goalkeeper protested his innocence, but with no VAR in operation, the penalty stood and the Hearts captain - who re-signed for the club last month - sent him the wrong way to restore the hosts' lead.
Fewer than three minutes later, Shankland was standing over the spot again with the ball in hand after substitute Elton Kabunga was hauled down. Rinse and repeat, Shankland picked the same spot and was rewarded with the same outcome.
It made for a comfortable looking score line, which appeared a certainty after Hearts took the lead on three minutes. James Wilson kicked off the McInnes era with a close-range effort after Shankland's initial shot had kissed the post.
The fast start to the McInnes reign did not last long, and although the hosts were utterly dominant, it was dull. And they were soon punished.
A slack back-pass from Beni Baningime was intercepted by Josh Cooper, who kept his cool to strike the Pars level.
The second-tier side grew more comfortable in the game from that goal and appeared on course to take their Premiership hosts to penalties, but were denied the chance when Shankland stole the show.
He was given the chance to feel the love from the stands as he was replaced with minutes to go by Stephen Kingsley, who rounded off the scoring with a fabulous finish for Hearts' fourth.
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