Ally McCoist proved his age is of no concern with a remarkable hat-trick as Hearts' title ambitions were thrown into sharp relief by Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

He turns 36 next month, but the veteran frontman's instincts remain unblunted by the passing of the seasons - he simply refuses to accept his magic boots have an expiry date.

All his three strikes on Sunday had a familiar look to them, the first after eight minutes a near-post stab, later on the hour-mark a controlled low shot to make it two.

The third was perhaps the pick, fellow Ibrox recruit Ian Durrant's driving run on the left releasing McCoist for a fierce drive to complete a job well done with four minutes left.

The visitors' title push last term was undermined by a failure to win against the Old Firm, and now a man who will forever be identified with Rangers has inflicted major damage.

Jim Jefferies' men went into this game as the only unbeaten side in the new Scottish Premier League, but left it with their reputation barely intact after a dismal showing.

Remarkably this was the first Scottish League match to be played at Rugby Park on a Sunday, but the Ayrshire club will want to trade on this day every week after this stunning result.

Both teams had contrasting European fortunes in midweek, Hearts destroying Estonians Lantana in the Cup Winners' Cup, but Kilmarnock's UEFA Cup run halted by Czech outfit Olomouc.

Pat Nevin, who Kilmarnock prevented from joining Motherwell this week had no place in the squad, while Hearts' Scotland under-21 defender Gary Naysmith was missing through injury.

The home team started with a brightness that matched the conditions and Gary Holt's first-minute cross was slotted just wide by Paul Wright.

After six minutes, Scotland's David Weir was at fault as his mis-hit clearance found Holt again, this time McCoist heading a precise cross straight at Rousset.

The former Rangers man was to be less generous a second time, Wright feeding Jerome Vareille on the right and from the cross, McCoist moved ahead of Thomas Flogel to stab home.

It was proof, if any were required, that McCoist's taste for goalscoring remains undiminished with time and backed his own assertion he can still perform at the highest level.

Minutes later, his and Kilmarnock's tally might have been doubled when McCoist caught Weir in possession then raced through only to be denied by a fine low reaction stop by Rousset.

The pair were in action again after 15 minutes, Holt carrying the ball well before finding McCoist who cut inside and fired a powerful angled drive pushed away by Hearts' French keeper.

It was a pace no side could have retained and predictably Kilmarnock began to relent, allowing Hearts slowly back into the contest, yet visiting attacks were still rare prior to the break.

Hearts made two changes at the interval in a bid to assert themselves, Jose Quitongo and Lee Makel joining the fray for Jim Hamilton and Rob McKinnon.

Substitute Makel's first telling intervention however was in defence as his saving tackle denied Wright profiting from a swift exchange of passes with Ian Durrant.

McCoist was not finished with proceedings however.

Latching onto a Dylan Kerr pass, the veteran frontman directed a 61st-minute half-volley under the body of keeper Marshall to make it 2-0.

Hearts' immediate response was a weaving Quitongo run, the winger rounding three home players before firing into the sidenetting losing a boot in the process.

After 72 minutes, McCoist turned provider, but Vareille lacked his colleague's composure in front of goal trying - but failing badly - to round Rousset.

Makel and fellow replacement Derek Holmes both shot narrowly wide of the mark in the closing stages as the visitors reluctantly stirred only for McCoist to enjoy the last laugh with his third.

In truth Hearts had offered little, for them Sunday became a day of rest and they must pray there is no repeat in the coming months.

There is, after all, only one Ally McCoist.

Teams

Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Kerr, Montgomerie, McGowne, Holt (Mitchell 81), Wright, Durrant, McCoist (Bagan 87), Mahood, Vareille (Burke 87).

Subs Not Used: Baker, Meldrum.

Booked: Mahood.

Goals: McCoist 8, 61, 86.

Hearts: Rousset, Weir, Ritchie, McCann, Fulton, Adam (Holmes 61), Hamilton (Quitongo 45), Locke, Flogel, McKinnon (Makel 45), Pressley.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Horn.

Booked: Fulton, Hamilton.

Att: 10,376

Ref: W Young (Clarkston).



Taken from sportinglife.com