Hearts 2 Kilmarnock 1

Andy Kirk and Phil Stamp scored a goal apiece to end Hearts' four-game losing streak at the expense of Kilmarnock.

But the win came at a price as talismanic captain Steven Pressley was taken off injured in the first period against the Ayrshire side in his first game since November 23.

However, the Jambos refused to allow that disappointment to colour their day and Northern Ireland international Kirk struck the opener in the 64th minute.

Former Middlesbrough midfielder Stamp struck a second for the home side 11 minutes before the end while ex-Hearts forward Gary McSwegan earned a consolation for Killie in injury-time.

But it was the visitors who had opened the game brightest with Freddie Dindeleux's header forward evading the Hearts' defence and sent Kris Boyd clear.

However, Tynecastle keeper Craig Gordon rushed from his line to block the striker's effort at close range.

Then though, Hearts were dealt a massive blow after just 20 minutes when skipper Pressley limped off to be replaced by Canadian international Kevin McKenna.

Clearly, the gamble to bring the defender back had failed to pay off as he was forced to retire early.

Sensing the first goal could be theirs, Kilmarnock continued to push forward and, in the 33rd minute, came within inches of taking the lead.

And Colin Nish's audacious 40-yard effort was brilliantly tipped over by Gordon.

Kilmarnock emerged from the break in determined mood and carved out three gilt-edged opportunities within the first three minutes.

First, Stephen Murray's shot was deflected by defender Patrick Kisnorbo's attempted block.

From the resulting corner, Gordon Greer's header ricocheted into the path of Boyd, but his shot on the turn was hacked off the line by stand-in Hearts skipper Alan Maybury.

Boyd then played Canero into space in the box but the midfielder's shot was too straight and Gordon beat the effort away.

Hearts head coach Craig Levein made a double substitution on the hour mark, with De Vries and Austin McCann making way for Neil Macfarlane and Robbie Neilson, with McKenna moving up front.

And the move paid immediate dividends for the home side as they took the lead in the 64th minute.

Stamp's long ball picked out the run of McKenna and the Canadian kept the ball in on the by-line before swinging in his cross.

Kirk reacted first and the Northern Irish striker's header from the edge of the six-yard box gave Francois Dubourdeau no chance.

Killie boss Jim Jefferies took a gamble with 17 minutes remaining as he threw on McSwegan for midfielder Gary McDonald.

But, almost immediately, the game was put out of their reach as the Tynecastle side snatched a second.

There were calls for a penalty as Paul Hartley went down in the box but, as referee Iain Brines waved aside the appeals, Stamp latched on to the loose ball and bulleted a shot into the bottom corner of the net.

But the visitors earned themselves a consolation in injury-time when McSwegan drilled in Boyd's touch into his path on the edge of the box.

Teams

Hearts Gordon, Maybury, McCann (MacFarlane 62), Pressley (McKenna 19), Webster, Severin, Stamp, de Vries (Neilson 61), Kirk, Hartley, Kisnorbo.

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Weir.

Booked: Stamp, Webster, Severin.

Goals: Kirk 64, Stamp 79.

Kilmarnock Dubourdeau, Shields, Greer, Dindeleux, Fulton, Canero, Boyd, McDonald (McSwegan 74), Murray (Hardie 58), Nish, Hay.

Subs Not Used: Samson, McLaughlin, Fowler.

Booked: Greer, Fulton.

Goals: McSwegan 90.

Att: 9,881

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).

Taken from the Scotsman