Still beating after a late seizure

Hearts 2-1 Kilmarnock
Natasha Woods at Tynecastle

A COMPELLING conclusion to a frantic afternoon of football sent Hearts through to the next round of the Scottish Cup, but only after nerves were shredded, passions inflamed and Kilmarnock left Tynecastle feeling aggrieved that the scoreline did not reflect their contribution to the match.

The final 15 minutes provided heart-stopping entertainment, rich in incident. This was never a game of real quality, but what a contest nonetheless. The dramatic denouement was triggered when substitute Jamie McAllister stuck out a leg to flick a low cross from Calum Elliot high into the Kilmarnock net.

On the home bench, Graham Rix must have thought he could finally breathe easy; the first half lead achieved through a header from captain Steven Pressley had finally been turned into something more substantial.

No chance, not with Kilmarnock having more than matched their opponents throughout and having already spurned a number of chances to equalise. So, with just four minutes to go, Kilmarnock’s Stephen Murray flighted in a freekick which curled over everyone bar Colin Nish at the far post, who stabbed it home.

That immediately provoked a scramble in the back of the net as players from either side jostled for the ball. Referee Alan Freeland, as he had commendably done all afternoon, got play resumed without adding fuel to the fire.

The final moments of the contest brought even more drama. After Kilmarnock goalkeeper Alan Combe had advanced into the opposing box for a last-ditch corner, Hearts broke free, Rudi Skacel carrying the ball forward with Combe struggling to regain his ground.

In the end it took a cynical, but understandable tackle from Garry Hay to halt the Czech’s progress. A yellow card followed, then a freekick and then the final whistle. The Hearts fans screamed their approval. After last week’s painful reverse against Celtic in the league, this was the perfect tonic.

Jim Jefferies, the Kilmarnock manager, praised his players for all but their finishing, for it was the only area where Graham Rix’s side surpassed them. Over the next few days he will consider the contract extension on offer from the Rugby Park club. On this evidence, he has many good reasons to continue his work in Ayrshire.

Kilmarnock were clever tactically, recognising the normal modus operandi employed at Tynecastle involves Hearts coming out with all guns blazing in an attempt to seize control. Hence the visitors started with a back three, which could swiftly slip into a back five, with the additional protection of James Fowler just in front of his defenders.

Wingbacks Hay and Gordon Greer advanced when they could, Skacel was kept quieter than normal and Kilmarnock’s work rate in midfield ensured Paul Hartley could not control matters in his usual fashion.

Still, Edgaras Jankauskas almost opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a wonderful long drive that cannoned off the post. But Kilmarnock weathered the early storm, eager for the rough and tumble of a cup tie bristling with committed tackles. By the quarter-hour mark, they were making chances of their own.

Allan Johnston stubbed one shot into the deck and wide after Steven Naismith had twisted clear of Hartley to create the opportunity and then Johnston went even closer with a fine play of his own, cutting inside from the left before sending a low drive slightly closer to the mark.

All of this counted for little on 23 minutes when the visitors were undone in a way that did not reflect well on their centre-halves. Robbie Neilson delivered a long throw from under the eaves of the main stand and Pressley flicked a header just inside the far post. Television footage may prove whether Neilson’s foot was over the line as he launched his throw, but that suspicion inflamed some among the travelling support.

Things went from bad to worse for Kilmarnock when Gary Wales had his nose rearranged during a challenge with Neilson, the unintentional damage forcing his departure to be replaced by Paul Di Giacomo.

Ill fortune also stalked Hearts, for Jankauskas spent the last few minutes of the first half hobbling around, struggling with a hamstring injury, before a break in play allowed Rix to introduce Michal Pospisil in his place. Rix was downbeat about the prognosis for the Lithuanian, suggesting the striker “could be out for quite a while”.

The same breakneck tempo resumed after the interval, Julien Brellier becoming the first player into the referee’s notebook as the tackle count rose higher. The referee showed restraint in circumstances that might have provoked a flurry of cards from other officials, for this was a fixture living up to its billing in terms of its fierce competitive nature.

Still, there was some neat enterprise on display amid the battle, Johnson again the architect for Kilmarnock on 54 minutes when his flighted delivery saw Nish tee up Naismith inside the Hearts box.

However Naismith lashed his shot high and wide, when there was time to take more considered aim. His manager suggested it was the best opportunity of the match, and he had a point. With half an hour remaining, Skacel almost doubled his team’s advantage, producing a snap shot through a crowd of players which Combe did well to block away.

But this would still be Hearts’ day – albeit only after Rix and the club’s supporters endured a nervewracking finish.

Taken from the Sunday Herald