Hearts 1 Raith Rovers 0

Alim Ozturk was the hero for Hearts again as the Scottish Championship leadersmaintained their four-point lead with a 1-0 win against Raith.

Ozturk's long-range effort rescued a point against rivals Hibernian in their last outing, and this time the defender found the net from 30 yards after striding forward unchallenged and unleashing a fierce drive past David McGurn.

The fifth-minute goal lit up an otherwise dull affair, but the Jambos did what they needed to maintain the gap to Rangers. After opening the scoring, Ozturk then tried his luck again, this time from a 25-yard free-kick but it fizzed narrowly over the crossbar.

The hosts dominated possession throughout the opening period, but failed to create any meaningful chances. At the other end Paul Watson flicked a header over the bar on one of the few occasions Raith ventured forward.

The second half continued in the same vein, with Hearts dominating possession but struggling to break down a determined Raith side. But the hosts were forced to cling on in the last eight minutes with 10 men after Adam Eckersley was forced off through injury after all three changes had been made.