ELLIOT REPAYS GAFFER’S FAITH

CALUM ELLIOT thanked boss Csaba Laszlo for his first Hearts start of the campaign by bagging a valuable brace.

The youngster returned to Tynecastle in January following a loan spell at Livingston, but has had to stew on the sidelines since.

However, he was finally given his chance to shine against relegation-threatened Killie and repaid Laszlo big-time by scoring twice before the interval to counter Danny Invincibile’s early opener for Killie.

Bruno Aguiar put the Jambos on easy street early in the second period and could even afford to miss a penalty as they steamrollered Jim Jefferies’ struggling team.

It was another big win for Hearts as they close in on third spot, but the overall performance was pleasing as well and that speaks volumes for the job Laszlo has done as coach.

As for Killie, they can have little complaint about the result and remain in the relegation dogfight having failed to rack up a victory this year.

The Rugby Park side did win at Tynecastle earlier in the season and offered fleeting hope they could repeat the dose by taking the lead after just eight minutes.

Mehdi Taouil put in a tantalising cross from the left and Invincibile rose high and unmarked to bullet home a header from nine yards.

Hearts quickly established themselves as the better team of the two, though, and got back on level terms midway through the opening period.

An Aguiar free-kick from the left-hand side was met first-time by Marius Zaliukas and saved low on his line by Alan Combe.

The visiting keeper couldn’t hold Zaliukas’ effort, though, and Elliot stole in to force the ball home from close-range.

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On 29 minutes, Elliot followed that up with a more impressive strike to put the Jambos in front.

Lee Wallace sent in a low cross that the ex-Scotland Under-21 striker met on the half-volley and sent whistling past Combe.

Elliot was once the whipping boy of the Hearts support and must have relished the moments during the game when they sang his name loud and proud.

He could even have gone on to complete his hat-trick before half-time. With five minutes of the first 45 remaining, he sent Andy Driver up the right with a deft flick-on and moved into the perfect position inside the area.

Driver picked him out in acres of space with a super low ball and Elliot ought to have done better than send a weak effort wide.

Kevin Kyle gave Killie hope in the closing stages of the half with two headers that tested Hearts keeper Janos Balogh.

But on 49 minutes, Aguiar made it 3-1. A Driver ball into the area was knocked on by Elliot and the Portuguese midfielder finished neatly at the near post.

Aguiar should have made it four on the hour after Killie defender Ryan O’Leary, just on for skipper Manuel Pascali, upended Elliot in the box.

However, Aguiar’s kick struck the inside of Combe’s right-hand post and rebounded to safety.

O’Leary then missed the chance to haul Killie back into the game by putting a header wide from point-blank range.