Miserable defeat to Killie

No victories in four attempts against Kilmarnock. Another embarassing statistic to add to the pile from this disastrous season as Hearts lost 2-0 to the men from Rugby Park in the final home game of the campaign.

Kilmarnock capitalised on an impressive second half performance as goals from Grant Murray and Paul Di Giacomo sent the loyal travelling support home happy.

Stephen Frail made several changes to the team that lost at Falkirk on Monday. Jose Goncalves, Ruben Palazuelos and Calum Elliot found themselves dropped from the starting XI while Saulius Mikoliunas missed out through injury and Christophe Berra was rested due to possible suspension worries. In came Marius Zaiukas, Lee Wallace, Deividas Cesnauskis, Michael Stewart and Fernando Screpis as Hearts adopted a 4-4-1-1 formation with Laryea Kingston given a free role, playing off striker Gary Glen.

Jim Jeffries went with a 4-5-1 formation with Medhi Taouli and Paul Dalglish supporting lone striker David Fernandez from the wings.

The opening 20 minutes were played out in a manner you might expect from a meaningless end of season encounter with Edinburgh's consistently unpredictable weather bringing out the biggest cheer from the cloud as thunder and lightning flashed around Tynecastle

The game's first meaningful opportunity fell to Eggert Jonsson as the youngster, playing in an unfamiliar right midfield role, made a great run through the centre to latch onto a flick-on from Gary Glen. Jonsson was about to pull the trigger when he was denied by a superb sliding tackle from Simon Ford and Killie were able to clear the danger.

As thunder roared louder than the support, Laryea Kingston almost produced a moment of brilliance. The little midfielder latched onto a bouncing through ball on the left hand side and, despite being forced away from goal, he unleashed a powerful volley that dipped narrowly over the bar at the back post.

Zaliukas had been an upopular choice to replace Berra from some sections of the support and the Lithuanian could have had the home side ahead after 31 minutes. The Lithuanian made a strong run in the penalty area to meet a Kingston corner but, battling difficult weather conditions, the ball skidded across his forehead and the chance was gone.

Screpis almost marked his first home start with his first goal for the club after good link up play involving Jonsson and Kingston put the Argentinian through for a shot of goal. Screpis made the wrong choice in opting to shoot with the outside of his right foot instead of going with his stronger left foot and his effort was comfortably held by Combe.

With the first half coming to a close Simon Ford was again at his best to snuff out another promising opportunity for Hearts. Kingston threaded a perfectly weighted pass from inside his own half for Michael Stewart charging through the middle. His first touch was good but Ford managed to outmuscle the midfielder and prevent him from getting a shot on goal.

It's safe to say Kilmarnock's first half performance would not have sat well with manager Jim Jeffries. His side responded with an encouraging start to the second half and should have taken the lead within the first few minutes.

First James Fowler saw his shot from 20 yards rise over the crossbar then Allan Johnston fluffed a great chance from inside the Hearts penalty area. The former Hearts playmaker swipped widely at thin air before the ball tricked to Medhi Taouli whose snap shot only managed to find the side netting.

Young player of the month Gary Glen had been kept quiet by a stingy Kilmarnock rearguard but the little striker was the quickest to react to a loose ball inside the box. Unfortunately for Glen he was off balance as he shot and his effort fired high over the bar.

The match, in all honesty, was awful. Hearts appeared to be offering their supporters a summary of the season and many of the long suffering fans walked out after Kilmarnock took the lead with just under 20 minutes remaining. David Fernandez's corner was met by Grant Murray at the front post and he powered his header into the back of the net from close range.

Substitute Paul Di Giacomo almost doubled the lead a minute later but his low drive from outside the area inched past the wrong side of Steve Banks' right hand post.

Kilmarnock's 2nd half performance deserved a second goal and they got it when Paul Dalglish once again abused Lee Wallace down the right before playing crossing in for Di Giacomo to sweep the ball home. Quite rightfully a mass exodus ensued from the home support who waved their option of applauding the players for the 'effort' they've shown this season.

On 90 minutes Gary Glen did his best to salvage something from the game but his shot from the edge of the penalty area landed right into the arms of Alan Combe. Glen's promise over recent home games gives some hope for supporters returning next year. The future can't come quick enough.

Hearts: Banks; Thomson, Karipidis, Zaliukas, Wallace; Jonsson, Stewart, Screpis, Cesnauskis; Kingston, Glen. Subs not used: Ridgers, Ivaskevicius, Palazuelos, Goncalves, McGowan, Rapnik, Mole.

Kilmarnock: Combe; Murray, Lilley, Ford, Hay; Hamill, Fowler, Johnston, Taouil; Dalglish, Fernandez

Referee: Mike Tumilty

Hearts World