Hearts 3-1 Kilmarnock

Hearts had Calum Elliot to thank as they recovered from losing an early goal to record a comfortable win and strengthen their grip on third place.

Danny Invincibile gave Kilmarnock the lead with a header but Elliot bundled in a shot to restore parity.

Elliot, making his first start for Hearts this season, added a clinical near-post finish before the break.

Bruno Aguiar swept in a strike early in the second period and the same player could afford to miss a later penalty.

The home fans had been chanting for Elliot to take the spot-kick, only to see the Portuguese midfielder slam his effort against a post.

Elliot, who had a profitable spell on loan at Livingston during the first half of the season - scoring 11 times, had earlier passed up a number of opportunities to claim his hat-trick.

With Aberdeen, Dundee United and Hibs all drawing, Hearts have pulled seven points clear in the race for European football.

Kilmarnock, now down to ninth spot, had been unbeaten on their last five visits to Tynecastle but fell apart as soon as the hosts got back on level terms.

The visitors made the perfect start, with Invincibile meeting a Mehdi Taouil cross on eight minutes and steering a bullet header beyond Janos Balogh from close range.

But Hearts came roaring back and Alan Combe did well to tip Andy Driver's looping volley over the bar before Elliot struck.

Combe could only block Marius Zaliukas' close-range effort from Aguiar's angled free-kick and Elliot, who impressed as a substitute last time out, forced the ball over the line.

Elliot then gave the home side the lead in on 28 minutes, racing in front of David Lilley to direct Lee Wallace's cross in at the near-post.

The lively Elliot was just out of reach of David Obua's pass in his bid to register a first-half hat-trick and then mis-hit a shot from 18 yards after being teed up perfectly by Driver.

Within five minutes of the restart, Hearts opened up a two-goal cushion after Aguiar found the net.

The ball broke to the playmaker after Elliot slid in on Driver's cross and he made no mistake right in front of Combe.

Aguiar turned provider for Elliot minutes later with a floated free-kick but the striker's glancing header missed the target.

It was one-way traffic as Ruben Palazuelos headed over from from another fantastic Wallace cross.

Hearts were then awarded a penalty on the hour mark after Kilmarnock substitute Ryan O'Leary felled Elliot but Aguiar effort cannoned off the upright.

Elliot, who was given a standing ovation when withdrawn in the closing stages, did well to cut inside Simon Ford on the edge of the box but Combe got down well to his low curling effort.

Kilmarnock rarely posed any threat but missed a great chance to drag themselves back into the match late on when O'Leary headed wide right in front of goal.

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo: "Calum Elliot has had a few problems in the past but he got a fantastic reaction from the fans.

"We kept him busy with lots of good passing and he got two goals, which is great for the team.

"We were punished again for not concentrating at the start of the match, but team spirit is high and we came back strongly."

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies: "I'm disappointed because I thought the early goal would galvanise us.

"But, if you're going to sit off players like we did today, then that's asking for trouble.

"I felt when they missed the penalty we might be in the game and we haven't had a better chance all season than Ryan O'Leary's header. If he puts that in, it's a different game."

Hearts : Balogh, Neilson, Zaliukas, Karipidis, Lee Wallace, Obua, Stewart (Jonsson 80), Palazuelos, Driver, Aguiar (Tullberg 90), Elliot (Nade 89). Subs Not Used: MacDonald, Cesnauskis, McGowan, Templeton.

Goals: Elliot 22, 29, Aguiar 49.

Kilmarnock : Combe, Murray (Gibson 46), Ford, Lilley, Hay, Taouil, Pascali (O'Leary 57), Hamill, Fernandez (Anson 78), Invincibile, Kyle. Subs Not Used: Rascle, Wright, Skelton, Flannigan.

Booked : Taouil, Pascali, Kyle.

Goals : Invincibile 8.

Att : 13,659

Ref : D Somers

Taken from the BBC