Dennis delivers for Hearts

Hearts striker Dennis Wyness netted the second-half goal which earned a 1-1 draw and ensured his side kept Kilmarnock at arm's length in the battle for third place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

Peter Leven fired them ahead just after the half-hour mark. But it was the Jambos who finished the game the stronger side, with the introduction of Ramon Pereira giving them an extra dimension.

Killie were forced into a change after just 16 minutes when Freddie Dindeleux, who had been playing at left-back, hobbled off to be replaced by Gary Locke. Locke went into central midfield so Leven was pushed back and to the left, but that did not stop him getting forward to open the scoring in the 31st minute.

Midfielder Gary McDonald was the man who played the decisive pass inside to allow Leven to stroke the ball across Craig Gordon with the outside of his left boot.

Allan Johnston fired just wide from fully 30 yards before Hearts head coach John Robertson decided on a double change a minute before the hour mark. On came Mark de Vries and Pereira, with McKenna and Joe Hamill making way.

McDonald should have put his side 2-0 up in the 65th minute when he slid in beyond the Hearts backline to meet a Johnston free-kick from the left only to make too slight a connection to beat Gordon.

Wyness made Kilmarnock pay by slotting home a stylish equaliser after being picked out at the back post in the 69th minute by Pereira's low drive across the box.