Hearts 1-0 Kilmarnock

Jamie McAllister twice tested Kilmarnock goalkeeper Graeme Smith, while Steven Naismith and Kris Boyd both threatened at the other end.

Jankauskas stroked the winner home after being set up by Rudi Skacel.

Naismith and McAllister squandered chances after the break as Hearts made it 12 games unbeaten in the SPL.

Christophe Berra had been preferred to Ibrahim Tall in the Hearts defence as replacement for suspended captain Steven Pressley.

Deividas Cesnauskis replaced the injured Paul Hartley in midfield, where McAllister was preferred to Samuel Camazzola.

Hearts took time to adjust and Naismith forced his way into their box and slammed an angled shot from 14 yards into the side-netting.

But McAllister soon forced Smith to parry clear a stinging 25-yard drive.

A thunderous McAllister free-kick was again well saved by Smith, Hearts failing with a penalty claim as Rhian Dodds challenged Andy Webster as the Hearts defender attempted to net the rebound.

Michal Pospisil's back-post header from a Skacel free-kick went just past the Killie post.

Just when Hearts' loss of momentum was leading to groans from the home support, they made the breakthrough.

Skacel sent Jankauskas through on the right-hand side of the Killie penalty area and the Lithuanian calmly stroked the ball past Smith from around 16 yards out.

Boyd came close moments later with a snap-shot that went just inches wide of Craig Gordon's left-hand post.

Naismith was given space just before the break, but his attempt to head over Gordon from close range lacked conviction.

McAllister gave Jankauskis a great chance for a second goal shortly after the break with a fine cross, but the Lithuanian headed wide.

Killie midfielder Danny Invincibile's volley from close range appeared to strike Webster's arm six yards from goal, but the referee ignored the appeals from the visitors.

Naismith sent a drive just over the bar following a good interchange with Boyd as Killie continued to threaten.

Smith prevented Hearts increasing their lead with a fine save to deny Pospisil from close range.

McAllister sliced the ball past the post from 12 yards out in stoppage time, but one goal was enough for Hearts.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Webster, Berra, Fyssas, Cesnauskis (Camazzola 75), Brellier, McAllister, Skacel (Wallace 84), Pospisil, Jankauskas (Elliot 80).
Subs Not Used: Banks, Simmons, Mikoliunas, Tall.

Goal: Jankauskas 35.

Kilmarnock: Smith, Fowler, Wright, Greer, Hay, Invincibile, McDonald, Dodds (Wales 71), Johnston, Boyd (Murray 75), Naismith.
Subs Not Used: Bell, Di Giacomo, Campbell, Jamie Adams, Flannigan.

Att: 16,536

Ref: S Dougal


Taken from the BBC