Hearts finally brought to an end their six-game losing streak at Tynecastle this afternoon with a fully merited draw against fellow strugglers Kilmarnock. Despite losing striker Calum Elliot with little more than half-an-hour played, and then a goal to Paul Di Giacomo in first-half injury-time, Stevie Frail's side showed great resolve to dominate the second half and find an equaliser through Andrius Velicka's close-range prod.

Not only that, but Hearts could argue that they may even have deserved to win the match, with the visitors' Alan Combe by far the busier of the two keepers, as he tipped over efforts from Audrius Ksanavicius, Ruben Palazuelos and substitute Christian Nade, even if Killie themselves would point to late chances for Willie Gibson and Danny Invincibile to support their own claims to the three points.

The calamitous final twenty minutes in Dundee had left Stevie Frail with much to think about ahead of this game, and just when the caretaker manager might have been looking for some consistency and stability of selection, he found himself forced into five changes for the game. Out through suspension of course went Marius Zaliukas, Lee Wallace and Michael Stewart, while Andrew Driver missed out completely because of injury and Saulius Mikoliunas was fit enough only to take up a place on the bench.

Robbie Neilson hurdles a double challenge

The reshuffle saw returns for Christos Karipidis (his first match since the opening game of the season) and Jose Goncalves in defence, and for Deividas Cesnauskis, Eggert Jonsson, and Audrius Ksanavicius in midfield.

Killie do not have their troubles to seek currently either, with a host of injured and suspended players of their own and a recent record almost as poor as Hearts' own. Despite that, Jim Jefferies opted for an ambitious 3-4-3 formation employing Danny Invincibile, Colin Nish and the returning Paul Di Giacomo in an attack that would attempt to take early advantage of the home side's legendary defensive frailty.

There was little sign of either side taking advantage of anything in the opening quarter of the match, however, the lack of confidence in both teams clear for all to see as they poked and prodded their tentative patterns around the soaking Tynecastle pitch.

Only once did the temperature rise during that first 22 minutes, when Elliot beat Simon Ford to a loose ball and was brought down some 30 yards from goal. Ksanavicius's curled cross should have been gathered easily by Combe, but was instead headed behind by a defender. From the resultant corner, Christophe Berra came into possession at the back post but got the ball caught under his feet and was unable to convert.

Calum Elliot is sent off by John Underhill

That was followed by another corner, which Ksanavicius booted high over everybody and out for a Killie goal kick, but it did at least herald a slightly more convincing passage of play from the home side. Ruben Palazuelos and Jonsson may not form the most creative central midfield partnership, but there was a tidiness and tirelessness about their play that allowed Hearts to carve out half an opening when the Icelander found the space and the pass to match Cesnauskis's bold right-wing run. The Lithuanian's first-time pass inside was intended for Robbie Neilson, who just failed to gather.

A clever flick by Andrius Velicka then found Ksanavicius inside the area, his quick pass finding Cesnauskis but the winger's heavy touch allowed Combe to gather. This was much better, though, especially on the right where Neilson was now able to cross deep for Palazuelos to head goalward. Unlike last week, though, this one lacked the power to beat Combe at his near post.

Good battling by Velicka then won possession for Ksanavicius on the left hand corner of the area, and the Lithuanian had only one thing on his mind as he powered into the area to unleash a rising shot, which Combe pushed over the crossbar.

However, just as we were beginning to allow ourselves to dream that things might be looking up, Hearts delivered another self-inflicted wound. Elliot, already booked for what appeared to be a late, revenge foul on Invincibile, lunged rashly at Tim Clancy on the Killie byline and Mr Underhill did not hesitate in administering Hearts' fourth red card in a little over 45 minutes of football.

Andrius Velicka stabs the ball home - finally some cheers!

That perhaps understandably took the wind from the home side's sails for ten minutes or so, but still they battled on to carve out another opportunity, Ksanavicius again doing well to win possession from a dithering Corrigan before crossing for Jonsson, who failed to get the ball under control quickly enough before he was crowded out by Clancy.

The home side seemed to have settled back into a new rhythm, but what they did not need was to conceded a goal before half-time. Of course that is what they then did. Jamie Hamill had already had a stinging shot well saved by Banks; his next delivery into the box found the unmarked Di Giacomo who guided a fine left-foot volley high beyond Banks to give Hearts a second-half mountain to climb. Again.

No changes in personnel for either side at half-time as Hearts sought to avoid their worst run of consecutive defeats in over 30 years. And they made a pretty good fist of it in the opening stages, as they wove some pleasing patterns in the areas immediately outside Alan Combe's penalty area. True, there was little action actually in the danger area, but there was a togetherness in adversity about the side that we have not seen in recent months.

Eight minutes in and Saulius Mikoliunas was introduced for Ksanavicius with Cesnauskis swapping over to the left-hand side, and Hearts continued to probe, Goncalves's barrelling run over half-way allowing him to feed Cesnauskis, whose quick pass inside left Velicka with only Combe to beat. The angle was tight, though, and the striker clearly did not fancy his left foot, all of which combined to let Corrigan deflect the effort into the side netting.

Joy after Hearts draw level

Killie's tactic of course was to soak up all this pressure and try to hit Hearts on the break. But when they got the chance to do so after Jonsson's pass was charged down, Nish's ball from the right was nowhere near the inrushing Invincibile in the centre. The Australian then robbed Karipidis at the edge of the area - illegally it seemed to us in the stand - before squandering the opening with a poor pass into the centre. Fortunately Mr Underhill saw the bright side of the subsequent altercation between Invincibile and Banks and a talking-to was all that was required.

Still, the amount of possession being enjoyed by Hearts was encouraging as were the purposeful thrusts of Mikoliunas and Cesnauskis on either wing. And it was from one of those that Hearts won the corner that dragged them back into the game. Cesnauskis's deep cross was headed back across goal by Karipidis, and among the ruck of players at the far post it was Velicka who got the decisive touch to give the home side a deserved equaliser.

The boost that gave to the whole team was obvious, Velicka now picking up possession at the edge of the area, negotiating some space for his shot and then firing in a low effort that shaved Combe's right-hand post. More good play from Cesnauskis on the left saw another fine cross delivered into the centre Velicka this time failing to connect with an elaborate overhead kick which only served to divert the ball from the inrushing Miko's head.

The home side were playing well and deserved to be in front, but you couldn't help wondering whether they would rue the gilt-edged chances they had already passed up. Little sign of it though as we entered the final quarter, Hearts continuing to press and dominate proceedings, Killie thankful for the excellence of Combe, who reacted acrobatically to tip over a pile driver from Palazuelos and a neatly guided header from substitute Christian Nade which looked as if it might just loop under the crossbar.

Mikoliunas is barged in the back

Of course, as time wore on, the nervousness in the stadium became palpable, especially as Hearts' conviction that they could actually win the game inevitably left huge spaces at the back. Killie sub Willie Gibson should have done better with a clear shot from twenty yards, then Invincibile might have slotted home Gibson's pinpoint pass into the area with barely a minute remaining but sliced into the side netting from four yards.

1-1 it finished then, and while St Mirren's victory over Hibs meant that Hearts slipped down to second bottom of the table, it was hard to feel too downbeat. It will be a long road back to respectability for the Gorgie side, but this might just be the first step along that road. Let's hope so.

Hearts: Banks; Neilson, Karipidis, Berra, Goncalves; Cesnauskis (Pospisil 85), Jonsson, Palazuelos, Ksanavicius (Mikoliunas 53); Velicka (Nade 82), Elliot. Booked: Elliot. Sent off: Elliot. Subs not used: Basso, Beniusis, McGowan, Brown.

Kilmarnock: Combe; Corrigan, Ford, Clancy; Fowler, Locke (Johnston 64), Invincibile, Hamill, Hay; Di Giacomo (Gibson 80), Nish. Booked: Nish. Subs not used: Harpur, Morgan, Fernandez, Flannigan, Wright.

Referee: John Underhill

Top man: Deividas Cesnauskis

Hearts World