Kilmarnock 2 Hearts 2

By Ken Gaunt, PA Sport

Mark Reilly salvaged a point for Kilmarnock with a dramatic goal in stoppage time at Rugby Park.

Hearts had been reduced to ten men after 73 minutes when Gary Locke was sent off after picking up his second yellow card of the game, this time for a challenge on Ally Mitchell.

They seemed to be hanging on until Reilly tried his luck from 30 yards out with a speculative shot.

The home fans could hardly believe it when the ball sailed beyond keeper Roddy McKenzie to deny Hearts their first victory in eight games.

It was the third time in a week the Edinburgh club had seen points disappear after defeats at the hands of Celtic and Motherwell.

McKenzie, replacing Gilles Rousset, who was suspended, had to react quickly after just three minutes.

A pass back from Paul Ritchie fell woefully short and he had to race out and boot the ball clear from Kilmarnock midfielder Ally Mitchell.

Jerome Vareille powered a volley just wide of the post after Gary Holt had played the ball back as the home side began brightly.

But Hearts opened the scoring after just seven minutes with a splendid goal. Colin Cameron played the ball through the middle to Gary Naysmith and he shrugged off the challenge of Peter Canero, making his full debut for Kilmarnock.

Naysmith played the ball across the face of the area and Gary McSwegan, lurking at the far post, tucked it away.

Holt then went close with a header for Kilmarnock before Hearts extended their lead after 22 minutes following a blunder by keeper Colin Meldrum. He hesitated as McSwegan headed Steve Fulton's corner across the face of the goal and Paul Ritchie took full advantage to knock it in.

Keeper McKenzie then made a superb save from Christophe Cocard as Kilmarnock desperately tried to get back in the game.

The Edinburgh club should have added third goal in the 31st minute after a sweeping move.

Cameron played the ball out to Fulton in acres of space on the right. He delivered a fine cross to the far post but somehow Meldrum managed to get a hand to McSwegan's point-blank header.

McKenzie made another superb save on half-time, this time from Vareille's header. Ally Mitchell, following up, found the net but his effort was ruled out for an infringement.

McSwegan squandered two excellent chances at the start of the second half that would have put the game out of Kilmarnock's reach. Kilmarnock defender Jim Lauchlan tried to head ball back to keeper Meldrum from McKenzie's long clearance. But he was unaware McSwegan was behind him and was relieved to see him fail to take advantage of the opportunity.

McSwegan then screwed a shot wide of the target from close range after sub Stephane Adam had played the ball into his path.

Kilmarnock pulled a goal back after 73 minutes to set up a nerve-shredding final 17 minutes for Hearts. Sub Alan Mahood got clear of his marker to nod home a cross from the industrious Ally Mitchell.

No sooner had Hearts regrouped when they suffered another blow with Locke being sent off two minutes later after picking up his second yellow card, this time for a challenge on Mitchell.

Hearts manager Jim Jefferies then made a tactical switch, bringing on defensive midfielder Grant Murray for McSwegan.

But Kilmarnock made their advantage pay right at the end with that spectacular strike from Reilly.

Teams

Kilmarnock: Meldrum, Canero, Dindeleux, Lauchlan, Hay (Burke 84), Mitchell, Durrant (Mahood 67), Reilly, Holt, Cocard, Vareille (Wright 67).

Subs Not Used: Watt, Hessey.

Booked: Cocard, Holt.

Goals: Mahood 73, Reilly 90.

Hearts: McKenzie, Locke, Pressley, Ritchie, Naysmith, Severin, McKinnon, Cameron (Jackson 84), Fulton, McSwegan (Murray 78), Flogel (Adam 45).

Subs Not Used: Vaaler, Makel.

Sent Off: Locke (70).

Booked: Flogel, Locke.

Goals: McSwegan 7, Ritchie 22.

Att: 8,326 Ref: Kenny Clark (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com