MARK WILSON at Rugby Park November 15 2004

Nostalgia may have dominated the prelude to this match but the outcome left both sides with reason to look forward with optimism.

With John Robertson lauding Jim Jefferies as his managerial mentor and Kilmarnock launching a strip to commemorate the 40th anniversary of their league title triumph over Hearts in 1965, there was a danger of rose-tinted reminiscing obscuring the urgent concern of the present day, namely the scrap to finish third in the Bank of Scotland Premierleague.

However, a fitful and occasionally odd game provided a just outcome and hope of further improvement. For Kilmarnock it came mainly from the performance of Peter Leven, the former Rangers youngster who has proved a revelation for Jefferies' men this season.

Primarily a left-winger, Leven has been used to good effect in central midfield but also shone when forced to retreat to left-back after Freddy Dindeleux's early injury. Leven owns a sophisticated left foot which slotted short passes and shelled long balls with similar accuracy throughout the 90 minutes.

He popped up inside Hearts' penalty area after 30 minutes and finished with impudence, curling the ball with the outside of his boot past Craig Gordon to give Kilmarnock a lead to which they could not quite cling.

Leven lost almost two years of his career to a cruciate ligament injury which effectively ended his dreams of progressing into the first team at Ibrox.

Gary Locke, the Kilmarnock midfielder, experienced the same injury and understands the strength of character required to make a full recovery. He also echoed the puzzlement of Jefferies as to why his team-mate has not been rewarded with a call-up to the Scotland Under-21 squad.

"I find that very strange after his recent performances," said Locke. "He has been doing so well, he's been keeping me out of the team.

"Peter has worked really hard. He came here on trial and the gaffer told him to get fit over the summer and come back. To be fair to Peter, he returned in great shape. He had to bide his time but since coming in he has been absolutely outstanding."

A veteran of Jefferies' Scottish Cup-winning era at Tynecastle, Locke believes that Kilmarnock can challenge Robertson's side for a European place. "I'm delighted for Robbo getting the job but my focus is Kilmarnock," he said. "I'm the captain and will do everything to make sure we are challenging his team and, hopefully, we can finish above them."

Locke was culpable in losing possession for Hearts' equaliser, but Ramon Pereira's speed and control were pivotal in setting up Dennis Wyness to score.

The fact the Spaniard and Mark de Vries came off the bench to good effect pleased Robertson, who remains unbeaten domestically with Hearts, but he insisted Wyness will remain a crucial part of his team: "Ask anyone here how good Dennis is. We are trying to play the ball to feet more and he's pivotal to that, as he's such a good footballer."

As for the substitutions, Robertson explained: "You just change it when you feel it is right. Sometimes you get them right and sometimes you get them wrong. That is the second fortunate substitution I have had at Kilmarnock [one with Inverness] in a few weeks."

Taken from the Herald