Battling Hearts claim draw

Kilmarnock 1
Di Giacomo (45)

RELENTLESS commitment and hunger saw Hearts claim a point against Kilmarnock despite playing the majority of the match with ten men following Calum Elliot's dismissal.

However, the Edinburgh club have now slipped to 11th place in the SPL table due to St Mirren's victory over Hibernian at Love Street.

Elliot became the fourth Tynecastle player ordered off in as many days for two bookable offences. He walked on 36 minutes and Kilmarnock moved ahead shortly after through Paul Di Giacomo. But the hosts delivered a spirited and second-half display which brimmed with unity and, having levelled through Andrius Velicka's eighth goal of the campaign, will consider themselves unfortunate not to have secured victory.

Whilst the club's league position, like their indiscipline, remains a concern, this match provided plenty cause for encouragement. If nothing else, a draw ended the recent run of seven consecutive defeats. Jim Jefferies will be similarly contented with a draw following Kilmarnock's recent erratic form, and in truth his side's performance did nothing to damage his credentials for the vacant manager's job at Tynecastle.

Hearts replaced the suspended trio of Marius Zaliukas, Lee Wallace and Michael Stewart with Christos Karipidis, Jose Goncalves and Eggert Jonsson respectively. It was Karipidis' first outing since August following knee surgery, and Deividas Cesnauskis also appeared in the starting 11 at Tynecastle for the first time since October 2006, replacing Saulius Mikoliunas.

The hosts survived an early penalty claim when Elliot looked to handle Colin Nish's head flick. Gradually, Kilmarnock settled into a rhythm and passed the ball confidently through midfield, although whenever Hearts regained possession Jefferies ordered his players to funnel back behind the ball.

This ensured space came at a premium and had a stifling effect on wingers Cesnauskis and Audrius Ksanavicius. Patience, though, can be a virtue in football and Hearts continued to probe as the first half progressed. Ksanavicius stung the fingertips of Kilmarnock's Alan Combe on 33 minutes following bullish forward play by Velicka, and the goalkeeper then repelled shots from Cesnauskis and Robbie Neilson in quick succession.

Just as the hosts began to thrive, they again pressed the self-destruct button. Elliot lunged at Tim Clancy and earned himself a dismissal having earlier been cautioned for a late tackle on Danny Invincibile. The striker could harbour few complaints for both offences were needless and bookable. However, it must be said that referee John Underhill was guilty of frightening inconsistency throughout the first half by allowing countless Kilmarnock infringements to pass without punishment. In particular, Simon Ford's persistent fouling ought to have been addressed.

Predictably, with Hearts reduced to ten men, the visitors then moved ahead. A flowing move down the right flank concluded with Di Giacomo converting Jamie Hamill's cross, bringing the opening period to a successful conclusion for Jefferies.

Hearts regained impetus for the second half and Goncalves and Cesnauskis combined to create an opening for Velicka on 57 minutes, but Ford's sliding challenge deflected the Lithuanian's strike wide. The reward for increasing the pressure arrived six minutes later. Berra towered above his marker at the back post to redirect Cesnauskis' corner into the six-yard box, where it was forced home by the ubiquitous Velicka.

The goal lifted the decibel level considerably inside Tynecastle and, after some impish keepie-up play by substitute Saulius Mikoliunas, Velicka poked a shot wide from distance. Kilmarnock's influence on proceedings was waning and Hearts, who were by now showing admirable grit and desire, strove to capitalise on their supremacy be pressing their guests back.

There was a touchline altercation between Billy Brown and Stephen Frail in the 74th minute, with the Kilmarnock assistant having to be restrained as emotions intensified.

Combe leapt into the air to
tip Ruben Palazuelos' drive for a corner and then denied substitute Christian Nade from Eggert Jonsson's deep cross.

Kilmarnock's Willie Gibson squandered a late chance on the break by scooping his shot into the Roseburn Stand, but neither they nor their hosts could be overly unhappy with a point.

Hearts (4-4-2): Banks; Neilson, Karipidis, Berra, Goncalves; Cesnauskis, Jonsson, Palazuelos, Ksanavicius; Elliot, Velicka. Subs: Basso, McGowan, Nade 83 (for Velicka), Pospisil 87 (for Cesnauskis), Mikoliunas 53 (for Ksanavicius), Beniusis, Brown.

Kilmarnock (3-4-1-2): Combe; Corrigan, Ford, Clancy; Hamill, Locke, Fowler, Hay; Nish; Invincibile, Di Giacomo. Subs: Harpur, Johnston 65 (for Locke), Morgan, Gibson 82 (for Di Giacomo), Fernandez, Flannigan, Wright.

Attendance: 14,346.

Referee: John Underhill.

Taken from the Scotsman