Dogged Win Lifts Hearts

As mentioned in my match preview, Killie are a side I've been very impressed with this season and I was very sceptical about Hearts' chances of getting a result today. That scepticism was not helped when I found out that Steven Pressley, Andy Webster and Julien Brellier were not even in the squad!

Pressley and Brellier had been doubts before the game so it's likely that they were genuinely injured, but the word on Webster is that he's been dropped for showing a lack of commitment to the club. Webster has refused to sign a contract extension and while warming up during last week's game against Dunfermline, he allegedly told some fans he doubted he'd be a Hearts player next season and he'd prefer to be at Rangers. If that's true then good on Ivanauskas for freezing him out - we want players who want to play for Hearts and although Webster has been magnificent this season, he's got to respect the club while he's still here.

As they have done in most of their home games this season, Hearts started the game pretty well and created a number of good chances. Jankauskas headed over from Neilson's long throw when he might have done better and Skacel had a rasping shot just over the bar from outside the box.

Jankauskas was in the thick of things again and he brought out a great save from Combe from close range, however the keeper couldn't hold the ball and it fell to Bednar six yards out with an open goal......and he somehow contrived to put it over the top with the goal at his mercy.

A few minutes later Bednar had another chance from Fyssas' cross but, although his effort was again too high, this time he did well to get it as close as he did as the cross came at him quickly and at an awkward height.

Hearts continued to play some nice football and Mikoliunas got himself into some great crossing positions, but sadly he never looked up and his deliveries went astray with players in good positions.

Killie were always dangerous on the break and they had a shout for a penalty when Danny Invincible went down under a challenge from Christophe Berra. It would have been harsh in this entirely impartial Jambo's opinion (!) and the referee agreed, but if he was so sure it wasn't a foul I can't understand why Invincible was not booked for the dive.

The Hearts defence had an even more unfamiliar look about it after half an hour when Goncalves had to limp off, giving Ibrahim Tall his long-awaited debut. Never has a surname been so misleading - the guy can't be much more than 5 ft 10!

Half time 0-0.

The second half started quite scrappily and it became increasingly likely that the only way the deadlock was going to be broken would be by a piece of individual brilliance or a mistake.

With news filtering through from Glasgow that Aberdeen had equalised at Ibrox, Paul Hartley stepped forward to produce that piece of brilliance that Hearts so badly needed. Having tried and failed with a few free-kicks earlier in the game, Hartley was given another opportunity midway through the second half and Skacel had been fouled after a good run. This time he struck a beauty over the wall and into the top left hand corner of the net behind Combe. Bedlam!

Killie had a great chance to equalise after a flurry in the Hearts penalty area, but Gordon brilliantly denied Stephen Naismith from point blank range.

The game really opened up in the latter stages and substitute Davidas Cesnauskas (on for Mikoliunas) was tearing the Killie defence apart. He put over a couple of great crosses that were just begging to be attacked. It's just a shame that Pospisil apart, Hearts don't have a natural poacher.

Nerves were jangling late on with fans tuning into their radios and biting their nails, but when Hearts went 2-0 up with ten minutes to go the relief was unbelievable. A corner was not properly cleared and after some untidy head tennis back and forward in the Killie penalty area, Christophe Berra bundled the ball into the net from close range to seal the points. His first goal for Hearts and he might never score a more important one.

A truly massive three points for Hearts, especially with Rangers only drawing with Aberdeen. Five points ahead with four games to go with a vastly superior goal difference. It really should be enough, but we have some huge games coming up that could go either way, so there's certainly no room for complacency just yet!
Star Player
Substitute Cesnauskas was fantastic when he came on, but for the opening goal alone I have to give it to the captain for the day, Paul Hartley.
Player Ratings
Gordon 7
Not a lot to do but he made one brilliant and crucial save from Naismith in second half.
Neilson 5
Tough afternoon against good, pacy forwards. Got forward well at times but had a few misplaced passes and clearances.
Fyssas 7
Excellent going up and down the park. Showed some nice skills on the wing and has a real passion about him at the moment.
Goncalves 4
Looked assured for the 25 minutes or so he was on the park. Hope his injury isn't serious.
Berra 7
Stood up well to a good attacking team and scored the killer second goal.
Aguiar 6
Found it much tougher this week against one of the best midfields in the country. Still, neat and tidy.
Skacel 6
Still far too lazy, but got more involved than he has for a while. Opted to shoot too often instead of passing to players in better positions.
Hartley 8
When we needed a hero he stepped forward. Brilliant free-kick after he'd nearly scored with a lob on the run.
Mikoliunas 6
Linked up well with Neilson and the strikers, but final ball was disappointing when in good crossing positions.
Jankauskas 7
As ever held the ball up brilliantly and brought others into the game.
Bednar 7
Pulled the Killie defence all over the place from start to finish. However his finishing continues to be disappointing.
Tall 6
Did very well and won an amazing number of headers against players much taller than him.
Tall 6
Did very well and won an amazing number of headers against players much taller than him.
Cesnauskas 6
Helped turn the game in Hearts' favour when he came on and tormented the Killie defence for the last 20 minutes or so.
Elliot 3
Only on for last ten minutes, not much time to make impact.