Hearts 2 Kilmarnock 1

By Simon Buckland, PA Sport

Hearts recorded a much-needed victory with far greater conviction than the slender nature of the scoreline suggested against Kilmarnock.

Bobby Williamson's men travelled to Tynecastle aware of they have assumed Hearts' mantle as the Old Firm's closest title challengers this term, but could not have anticipated such a backlash.

Stephane Adam put Hearts ahead with a stunning volley in the seventh minute when the home team had already gone close twice, but despite countless opportunities it somehow remained the only goal until the 86th minute.

Gary McSwegan spurned the best of these, a genuine contender for the worst miss of the season as he headed against a post when faced with an empty goal after 10 minutes, but he was not the only offender.

Hearts' inability to secure the points meant a one-sided game remained in doubt until the last through a late exchange of goals before what is only Kilmarnock's second league defeat this term was confirmed.

With four minutes remaining, Steve Fulton struck a belated second, but from the kick-off Kilmarnock responded through substitute Paul Wright, courtesy of a Gilles Rousset error, to set up a thrilling finale yet Hearts held out.

Mark Roberts retained his place in attack ahead of Wright who was joined on the bench by Mark Reilly who rejoined Kilmarnock from Reading in midweek.

For Hearts, struggling for form in mid-table, Paul Ritchie surprisingly only made as far as substitute on his return from suspension, but Gary Naysmith started after a recent injury.

Hearts threatened as early as the second minute when Fulton's free-kick was met by Grant Murray whose glancing header went narrowly wide.

Ray Montgomerie was fortunate to escape with only a booking after five minutes when he pulled back McSwegan when the striker was clear on goal.

Vincent Guerin's free-kick then crashed against the underside of the bar and was hacked to safety by Kevin McGowne as Hearts protested the ball had crossed the line.

Hearts maintained their pressure however and a deflected McSwegan cross was volleyed in emphatically by Adam to put the home team ahead in style.

Encouraged by their seventh minute lead, Hearts pressed again and Adam's cross from the left offered McSwegan an open goal from three yards to make it 2-0.

But somehow the former Dundee United forward conspired to head directly against a post and the chance of his first strike for Hearts was inexplicably spurned.

Kilmarnock forced Gilles Rousset into an alert save after 16 minutes through a McGowne header only for Hearts to break, Adam's shot forcing a fine stop by Gordon Marshall.

Hearts were dominating and the French duo Guerin and Adam were the influential figures, the former finding the latter again for another effort at goal saved by Marshall after 20 minutes.

But Adam was wasteful in Hearts' next attack, a fine surge by McSwegan down the right culminated in a precise cross his strike partner was unable to bring under control.

Adam repaid the turn, and McSwegan repeated the poor finishing trend after 25 minutes when he opted to turn in a cross that demanded a header with a difficult volley well over the bar.

It had been a frantic opening half-hour, but Hearts must have already wondered how their opportunity to put the game beyond Kilmarnock's reach ahead of half-time had gone.

After 53 minutes, Marshall was beaten to the ball by Adam and Fulton's snap shot on the turn was blocked well by McGowne, while moments later Murray fired just wide of the mark.

Guerin was still impressing and his ambitious 25-yard shot soared over the crossbar after he intelligently created time and space for himself at the edge of the area on 57 minutes.

Too many of Hearts' moves continued to break down as they approached the final third and the frustration of their support that the game was still alive for Kilmarnock was now audible.

Good work by Murray after 67 minutes set up Adam but his first attempt was blocked, while his second was lifted high over the crossbar.

Kilmarnock went close in the 83rd minute when substitute Wright drilled a low shot the wrong side of the post, but anything other than a home win would have been unjust.

Hearts finally doubled their long-held advantage after 86 minutes when another sub Juanjo burst clear on the left and crossed for Fulton to net an overdue clincher from close range.

Just as that seemed to end matters, Wright's underhit shot was spilled by Rousset on 87 minutes and suddenly Hearts were being made to sweat to put the seal on what should have already have been settled.

Teams:

Hearts: Rousset, McPherson, Naysmith, Weir, Fulton, Adam (Juanjo 83), Locke, Pressley, Murray, Guerin (Hamilton 76), McSwegan (Quitongo 83).

Subs Not Used: Ritchie, Strang.

Booked: Rousset, Guerin.

Goals: Adam 6, Fulton 86.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, Montgomerie, McGowne, Holt, Durrant (Wright 78), Mitchell (Reilly 68), Mahood, Vareille, Baker, Hamilton, Roberts.

Subs Not Used: MacPherson, Burke, Strain.

Booked: Montgomerie.

Goals: Wright 87.

Att: 14,363

Ref: W Young (Clarkston).


Taken from sportinglife.com