HEARTS AIN'T INVINCIBLE

FURIOUS Graham Rix has warned his players they will miss out on a Champions League spot and Scottish Cup glory if they don't improve on yesterday's horror show.

The Hearts gaffer was rightly dejected after Danny Invincibile's second-half strike handed Kilmarnock their first win in 13 attempts against the Edinburgh side.

The scoreline could have been more convincing for Jim Jefferies' men but Gary Wales and Colin Nish both missed chances they would have normally buried.

Celtic can move 10 points clear of the Jambos at the top with a win at Motherwell today and Killie's win also gave Hibs and Rangers hope of catching Rix's side in the chase for Champions League football.

Tony Mowbray's troops are now just six points behind in third with resurgent Gers a point further back.

But Rix said: "We have a lot to play for. We're second in the league and still in the Scottish Cup.

"But I told my players that if there are many more performances like that then all the good work from earlier in the season will be for nothing.

"We were never at the races and weren't determined enough.

"My players have to realise they are a big scalp and teams really want to beat them. That's the way it's going to be for the rest of this season and next season."

Overall, Hearts lacked the quality required to win.

They didn't start badly though and it could have been a different game had Calum Elliot got on the end of Neil McCann's superb low cross after 11 minutes.

Michal Pospisil then saw his right-foot volley from 10 yards bring a fine save from Killie keeper Alan Combe.

However, Killie bounced back and Julien Brellier was lucky to escape a booking in 20 minutes when he chopped down Garry Hay. Stevie Naismith wasn't so lucky moments later and was rightly yellow carded for a late tackle on Robbie Nielson.

McCann was desperate to impress in his first game since returning to Hearts but lasted just 24 minutes.

The winger limped off after a tackle from David Lilley to be replaced by Jamie McAllister.

McCann's loss was a huge blow but Takis Fyssas tested Combe soon after with a good right-foot effort.

Kilmarnock responded with an excellent free-kick from Hay that was tipped over the bar by Craig Gordon.

Rugby Park kid Naismith scored last week against Celtic and was again impressive.

The youngster gave Nielson a torrid time and the Jambos defender was eventually booked in 37 minutes for dragging him down as he tried to race clear.

Hearts made a change at the interval when the ineffective Saulius Mikoliunas was replaced by fellow Lithuanian Nerijus Barasa.

But before he had touched the ball his side went a goal down as Killie pounced within 29 seconds of the restart.

Nish is always an awkward striker to handle and he made make life difficult for the Hearts defence with his back to goal inside the box.

The big man had runners offering support but opted to shoot and the ball eventually broke to Invincibile who rattled a low strike past Gordon from just nine yards.

Things didn't get any better for Barasa when he was booked for a foul on Hay.

Hearts almost grabbed a leveller in 59 minutes when Elliot headed inches wide of Combe's right-hand post from McAllister's free-kick.

But Wales should have doubled his side's lead seconds later when he showed great pace and control to race clear.

The former Jambos striker had just Gordon to beat but lost his composure and battered a shot wide from 12 yards.

Hearts knew defeat would be catastrophic for their title chances and bombarded the opposition goal in search of an equaliser.

Their final ball, though, always lacked precision.

Rix's men got no joy against the Killie defence and Frazer Wright was in great form for the Ayrshire side.

Jefferies' troops were always a threat on the break and Allan Johnston was inspirational.

When his side were under the cosh the former Hearts and Rangers star rarely wasted a pass. He was also a calming influence, talking his teammates through what was required to hold on to their lead.

Killie should have wrapped up the game in 88 minutes but Nish missed an absolute sitter.

Wales raced clear from Nielson and picked out his strike partner with a pass across the six-yard box.

Gordon didn't stand a chance but Nish somehow hit the ball off the right-hand post from close range. It was unbelievable.

Fortunately for the big striker it didn't make a difference to the result.

Naismith said: "Colin got stick from the boys about the miss. However, this is a massive win and hopefully we can push higher up the league."

ref watch

STEVE CONROY was diabolical and should be embarrassed with his display. Rarely called a decision right and totally baffled the players, management and supporters all afternoon. Rating: 2/10.

Taken from the Sunday Mail