Dunfermline Athletic staged their second fightback of the week to protect third spot in the Scottish Premier League at East End Park.

Hearts looked to be ready to leapfrog the Pars after Scotland midfielder Scott Severin put the Edinburgh side ahead shortly after the break.

But goals from Barry Nicholson, Lee Bullen and Stevie Crawford turned the game on its head after some typically aggressive tactical changes from Dunfermline boss Jimmy Calderwood.

Calderwood had made three changes from the side that fought back from behind to beat Dundee 3-2 in midweek as BBC television arrived for the live Sunday broadcast.

Goalkeeper Marco Ruitenbeek injured a groin and was replaced by Derek Stillie, while Sean Kilgannon and Chris McGroarty came in for Gary Mason and Gary Dempsey.

Scott Severin gave Hearts a deserved lead

Hearts also went into the game on a high after their hard-fought CIS Cup quarter-final victory at Aberdeen.

Head coach Craig Levein was given a further boost, with talented pair Jan-Louis Valois and Mark de Vries coming back after injury.

Valois replaced Neil Janczyk, who dropped to the bench alongside De Vries.

Hearts started the better and came close to scoring within two minutes, when Gary Wales' shot on the turn was pushed wide of the post by Stillie.

The home side survived a penalty claim when defender Scott Wilson attempted a diving header but appeared to strike the ball with his hand while lying on the ground.

Attempts by Wales and defender Kevin McKenna also flew just wide, while a Severin header was net-bound until it hit team-mate Andy Kirk on the line.

Dunfermline were finding it hard to create chances and, when Crawford did break clear, McKenzie rushed off his line to save at the feet of the Scotland striker.

There was no real surprise when the visitors took the lead eight minutes after the break.

Severin picked up a loose ball 30 yards from goal and drove a glorious low shot past Stillie and into the corner of the net.

Stevie Crawford (right) scored the Pars' third

Stamp came close with another long-range effort before Hearts brought on De Vries for Andy Kirk in an attempt to kill off the game.

But it was Dunfermline who equalised after 64 minutes, when Nicholson's drive took a wicked deflection before looping over McKenzie and into the net.

Craig Brewster missed a chance soon after when he hesitated with only the goalkeeper to beat.

But Dunfermline, now with a more attacking formation, took the lead in the 75th minute with a stunning goal.

A long Jason Dair pass found Lee Bullen just inside the Hearts box and the midfielder took a touch before sending a screamer past McKenzie and into the far top corner.

De Vries and Valois both missed great chances to equalise before Crawford beat three Hearts players and slammed the ball into the corner of the net to complete the scoring in the dying seconds.

Dunfermline: Stillie, Dair, McGroarty (Dempsey 63), Skerla, Scott Thomson (Mason 55), Wilson, Bullen, Nicholson, Kilgannon (Walker 79), Crawford, Brewster.
Subs Not Used: MacPherson, Scott Y Thomson.

Booked: Wilson.

Goals: Nicholson 65, Bullen 76, Crawford 90.

Hearts: McKenzie, Maybury, McMullan (Weir 81), McKenna, Pressley, Webster, Stamp (Janczyk 70), Severin, Valois, Kirk (de Vries 63), Wales.
Subs Not Used: Gordon, McCann.

Booked: Webster.

Goal: Severin 53.

Attendance: 4,800

Referee: Michael McCurry.