Hearts 0 Kilmarnock 2

By Chris Bertram, PA Sport

Hearts' title hopes suffered a massive blow as Kilmarnock claimed a stunning win at Tynecastle to move above Rangers into third in the Bank of Scotland Premierleague table.

Valdas Ivanauskas' side dominated the early exchanges but it was the visitors who took the lead through Danny Invincibile in the 28th minute following good work from Steven Naismith.

Former Hearts manager Jim Jefferies saw his side double their advantage seven minutes later when Gary Wales' shot was deflected off Christophe Berra and past Craig Gordon.

The defeat leaves the Edinburgh club eight points behind Celtic at the top of the league and facing a difficult task to reel in the reigning champions, who they face in a fortnight's time.

Hearts started impressively and threatened to take the lead in the third minute when Edgaras Jankauskas and Roman Bednar - drafted into the side at the expense of Jamie Mole and Andrius Velicka - combined impressively on the edge of the Killie box.

Graeme Smith had to be quick off his line to smother the danger as the Czech striker prepared to shoot.

Two minutes later, Deividas Cesnauskis' clever flick set Jankauskas clear and only a deflection off a Kilmarnock defender stopped the Lithuanian putting the Jambos ahead.

Mirsad Beslija, recalled in place of the suspended Saul Mikoliunas, fired in another effort less than a minute later which was again deflected wide of goal as the home side pressed for an early breakthrough.

The Killie defence, in which fit-again Gordon Greer replaced the injured Simon Ford, rode out the initial storm though and James Fowler shot over the Hearts crossbar from the edge of the box when more composure was required.

Killie's increasing foothold on the game was demonstrated in the 28th minute when Invincibile finished beautifully after being fed by Naismith, who had burst forward from midfield - his path made easier by a slip on the greasy surface from Hearts skipper Steven Pressley.

The visitors then went further ahead in the 35th minute when former Hearts striker Wales' effort was deflected off Berra past a flat-footed Gordon.

Paul Hartley tried to haul the home side back into the game a minute later but Smith beat out his free-kick and dived on the loose ball with several attackers waiting to pounce.

But Killie almost made it 3-0 when Wales nodded Garry Hay's free-kick back across goal and Naismith headed against the bar with Gordon again beaten.

Kilmarnock started the second half on the front foot and Invincibile looked poised to trouble Gordon again in the 55th minute when the ball dropped to the Australian just 14 yards out.

But a trio of Hearts defenders led by Scotland international Pressley threw their bodies in front of the ball to block Invincibile's effort.

Ivanauskas made his first substitution a minute later when Jankauskas was replaced by Velicka, while Killie striker Wales was withdrawn in favour of midfielder Peter Leven.

Just past the hour mark, Hearts' head coach made his second change, taking off Beslija and sending on Scotland winger Neil McCann.

Seconds later, Bednar spun intelligently in the box and fired an effort just wide of Smith's left-hand post as Hearts threatened for the first time in the half.

Leven should have made it three in the 65th minute when he collected David Fernandez's flick six yards out but could only poke the ball weakly at Gordon.

Ivanauskas made his final switch a minute later, defensive midfielder Bruno Aguiar coming on in place of left-back Lee Wallace.

Hearts pressed for a way back into the game but Kilmarnock's defence refused to buckle as Greer and Frazer Wright stood firm at the back.

Fernandez also remained a threat to the home defence with one piece of skill forcing Berra to haul him down and earn a deserved booking.

Hearts winger Cesnauskis cut in from the right with three minutes left and produced a powerful drive but Smith was equal to it in the Killie goal as the points were secured by the Ayrshire side.

Teams:

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Berra, Wallace (Aguiar 66),Beslija (McCann 62), Hartley, Tall, Cesnauskis, Bednar,Jankauskas (Velicka 56).

Subs Not Used: Banks, Fyssas, Zaliukas, Mole.

Booked: Jankauskas, Neilson, Bednar, Berra.

Kilmarnock: Smith, Fowler, Greer, Grant Murray, Hay, Naismith,Johnston, Frazer Wright, Fernandez (Di Giacomo 90),Wales (Leven 59), Invincibile.

Subs Not Used: Combe, Dodds, Stephen Murray, O'Leary, Adams.

Booked: Frazer Wright, Greer, Leven.

Goals: Invincibile 28, Wales 35.

Att: 16,849

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com