Hearts 1-2 Kilmarnock

A late strike from Craig Bryson sealed a win for Kilmarnock at Tynecastle.

Mehdi Taouil curled home a sweet free kick from 20 yards to give the visitors a 19th-minute lead.

However, Laryea Kingston levelled the game before half time when he swept in a loose ball after Michael Stewart's fierce shot had been blocked.

Kingston wasted three excellent chances in the second half and Bryson punished Hearts when he slipped a shot into the bottom corner from 16 yards.

The home side left the field to a chorus of boos after the well-organised visitors had done a good job of keeping the home fans quiet throughout a largely scrappy match.

Kingston had a busy afternoon for Hearts and delivered a good early ball into the path of Mike Tullberg, who connected awkwardly and chested wide of the target.

Kilmarnock then opened the scoring. Jamie Mole picked up the first booking of the game for a foul on Bryson just outside the box and the challenge proved to be costly.

Taouil stepped up for the resultant free-kick and delivered a lovely curling effort into the top corner of the net, leaving goalkeeper Marian Kello with no chance.

Killie pushed forward in numbers and looked likely to add to their tally - only to suffer a blow when Hearts hauled themselves level on 34 minutes.

Stewart burst into the penalty box and had a go with a powerful effort that cannoned off the body of Bryson and fell kindly to the feet of Kingston, who gratefully lashed home the rebound from 10 yards.

The visitors tried to restore their lead before the break but Jamie Hamill's effort at the near post was weak and comfortably held by Kello.

Killie could have been back in front shortly after the restart when Hearts lost possession in the middle of the park, allowing David Fernandez to hook the ball out to Conor Sammon.

The striker burst into the box from the right but was denied by a timely block from Hearts skipper Christophe Berra .

Hearts winger Saulius Mikoliunas took advantage of David Lilley's failure to clear the danger and saw his low shot scrape wide before Kingston volleyed over from close range.

Kingston missed another great chance to hand Hearts the advantage when he collected a lovely pass from Mikoliunas and found himself one-on-one with Alan Combe, only to shoot right at the keeper.

Bryson snatched the winner with nine minutes to go, starting the move by picking out substitute Donovan Simmonds before making a well-timed run into the box and collecting the return pass and finishing in style with a well-placed strike.

There was time for one last opportunity for Kingston but the Ghanaian's stoppage time header shaved the outside of the post.

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies: "The application was spot-on; we were winning headers and tackles and fighting for every ball.

"It was not the best of games but sometimes you have to grind it out.

"It's a very tight league and it's great for us to be sitting third going into a break for the international games."

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo: "We lacked confidence and we stopped playing short passes.

"We played too many long balls, which is always very nice for opponents. I want to see us build the game.

"I am disappointed and angry but I won't criticise my team. At the moment I must protect my team."

Hearts: Kello, Thomson, Zaliukas, Berra, Lee Wallace, Kingston, Stewart, Karipidis, Mikoliunas (Makela 88), Tullberg (Nade 63), Mole (Ksanavicius 55). Subs Not Used: Balogh, Palazuelos, Aguiar, Rapnik.

Booked: Mole.

Goal: Kingston 34.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Lilley, Ford, Wright, Hamill, Invincibile, Bryson, Pascali, Taouil (Skelton 87), Sammon (Simmonds 70), Fernandez. Subs Not Used: Rascle, Murray, Gibson, Flannigan, Cox.

Booked: Taouil, Ford, Fernandez, Pascali, Wright, Lilley.

Goals: Taouil 19, Bryson 82.

Att: 13,189

Ref: C Thompson

Taken from the BBC