SPOT KICK WAS H-ELL FOR CALUM

Scorers: HEARTS: Elliot (2), Aguiar KILLIE: Invincibile

CALUM ELLIOT won over the Jambos fans with a first-half double, but was denied a hat-trick as boss Csaba Laszlo played Scrooge.

Hearts fans were screaming for Elliot to take a second-half penalty after he was fouled in the box.

But Portuguese ace Bruno Aguiar stepped up to take the kick - under Laszlo's orders - and promptly sent it against the post.

Laszlo said: "We are not here for the Christmas market. We have two or three players who take penalties in training and their confidence is there.

"Today it was Bruno or David Obua and it was Bruno who was nominated for the penalty. He gets the possibility and didn't score but this happens.

"Normally, you must score and every goal is important at the moment as our goal difference is not the best. But Calum must be happy with his two goals and I'll be even happier if he scores another two against Celtic on Saturday.

"He had two or three chances to get his hat-trick with his movement. My gift to him was not to give him the penalty, but to take him off near the end to enjoy the applause of the fans."

Elliot, 22, admitted he wanted to take the spot-kick, but can understand his gaffer not letting him take the kick.

The hitman who looked to be on the way out of Tynecastle after numerous loan moves, said: "Obviously, I wanted to take the penalty, but the manager has his rules and you have to adhere to them.

"I heard the fans chanting my name to take it, but you just have to get on with it. I was delighted with the response of the supporters, but the most important thing for me was to get the three points.

"It helps when the team is doing well and giving you good service and my job is to try and keep it simple and get goals and thankfully I've done that today.

"I've been champing at the bit to get the chance and the gaffer has given me it in the last few weeks. Hopefully, I can build on this and stay in the team." Killie took a shock lead after eight minutes with the simplest of goals. Mehdi Taouil sent a pinpoint cross to the back post, but no one reacted in the Hearts defence and Danny Invincibile stole in to nod home from six yards.

Hearts hit back immediately and when David Lilley was unconvincing with his clearance, Andrew Driver's quick-fire effort was brilliantly tipped over by Alan Combe.

Killie were guilty of giving away too many free-kicks at the edge of their area and the Jambos equalised midway through the first half after Lilley was guilty of conceding a needless foul.

Aguiar's kick was flicked on at the near post by Ruben Palazuelos and, though Combe pulled off a terrific save, Elliot was brave and alert to stab the loose ball into the net off Grant Murray.

We're in a precarious situation

The Jambos hitman produced a top-notch finish six minutes later when he pounced on a low cross from Lee Wallace to beat Combe with an instinctive strike to make it 2-1. Lilley had a chance to equalise moments later when the ball broke to him at the edge of the box, but he could not keep his volley down.

Taouil became the first player to be booked after a lunge on Robbie Neilson on the touchline and he was fortunate only to be shown the yellow card.

Elliot should have completed his hat-trick five minutes from the break when Driver scampered clear on the right and laid the ball on a plate, but he side-footed his effort tamely wide.

Killie brought on Willie Gibson for Murray at half-time in a positive switch by Jim Jefferies to try and turn the tide.

But it was Hearts who increased their lead four minutes into the second half. Aguiar played in a hopeful ball, but Manuel Pascali allowed Elliot to get in front of him in the six-yard box and he touched it back to Aguiar who drilled the ball home at the near post. Elliot then had another chance from a free-kick, but glanced his header wide of Combe's right-hand post from 10 yards.

Killie were struggling to keep in touch and Palazuelos was then just inches too high with a close-range header.

Hearts should have added to their lead after 61 minutes when Killie sub Ryan O'Leary fouled Elliot in the box and ref David Somers immediately pointed to the spot.

In spite of the crowd calling for Elliot to take the penalty to complete his hat-trick, it was Aguiar who placed the ball on the spot.

But his effort struck the inside of the post and bounced to safety to give Killie a much-needed lifeline.

HEARTS v KILMARNOCK

There was another opportunity for Elliot when Michael Stewart sent him clear and his touch set up a shooting chance, but his lukewarm effort was easily saved by Combe. O'Leary missed a good chance to pull a goal back when he failed to connect properly in front of goal after Kevin Kyle had sent in a menacing header.

After that, Jambos gaffer Laszlo had the chance to take Elliot off and give him the chance to bask in the glory of a standing ovation.

It's another poor result for Killie who now face a real battle to stay up.

Gaffer Jefferies said: "We're in a precarious situation, but we've been in a precarious situation for the past two or three weeks and there are five clubs in the same position.

"If Ryan O'Leary had scored to make it 3-2 it might have been different as they had missed a penalty to make it 4-1 and it might have put some doubt in their minds.

"I don't think you'll see an easier chance all season, but it didn't go in so we don't know how it would've turned out."

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.

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.