Hearts 3-1 Kilmarnock

Apr 6 2009 Anthony Haggerty

HEARTS hitman Calum Elliot bagged a match-winning double against Kilmarnock - then begged Jambos boss Csaba Laszlo to give him a start for the visit of SPL champions Celtic this weekend.

The former Scotland Under-21 international revelled in a rare first-team outing to crush Killie and move his side seven points clear of the chasing pack in third place.

The Jambos remain firmly on course to qualify for the Europa League in Laszlo's first season at the helm.

And it's a far cry from last season when the Gorgie side finished in eighth place.

It was Elliot's first start of the season for the Jambos after spending the last six months on loan at First Division outfit Livingston, where he notched 11 goals in the process.

And Elliot helped restore some of his battered confidence with a double against the Rugby Park men.

It has been a long road back to popularity for Elliot, who was booed by his own supporters last season.

But the jeers turned to cheers when he was given a standing ovation after being replaced by Christian Nade a minute from the end - and he even earned praise from his manager.

Now Elliot is praying his killer instincts against Killie will be enough to convince Laszlo he is worthy of a starting slot against the Hoops.

He said: "I was delighted to start the game but the most important thing was to get three points.

"We have managed to do that again and it puts us in a good position now to land third place and a slot in Europe that goes with it.

"The team played very well and gave me good service, my job is to just keep it simple and try to get goals.

"Thankfully I have done that and hopefully I've done enough to keep my place for the massive game against Celtic next week.

"Hopefully the manager will feel I've done enough to keep myself in the team for the next few weeks. I went away on loan to Livingston and played regular first-team football.

"I feel that going out on loan has really benefited me.

"I have been champing at the bit to get a chance and the manager has now given me a start."

Danny Invincibile opened the scoring for the visitors in the eighth minute, powering a close-range header beyond Jambos keeper Janos Balogh.

Elliot levelled in the 22nd minute when he bundled the ball over the line after Killie's Alan Combe had initially saved Marius Zaliukas' effort.

And Elliot added his second six minutes later with a clinical near-post finish before Bruno Aguiar put the icing on the cake, scoring the third with a close-range shot five minutes after the restart.

Elliot revealed he was never going to be given the chance to become a hat-trick hero despite the fact Hearts were awarded a second-half penalty when he was felled by Ryan O'Leary.

Laszlo decided before the game had even started that either Aguiar or David Obua were on penalty duty.

And with the Hearts supporters calling for Elliot to take the kick and notch his treble, Aguiar ignored their chants before seeing his effort cannon off the upright and away to safety.

Elliot said: "Obviously I wanted to take the penalty but at the start of the game the manager has the penalty takers on the board and you just have to go with the rules he makes."

Laszlo explained his decision to deny Elliot spot-kick duties and revealed replacing the striker in injury time was his "gift" to the youngster.

The Hungarian wanted the striker to savour his moment of leaving the field to the sound of the Hearts fans cheering instead of jeering.

Laszlo said:"Calum understands that it was either Bruno Aguiar or David Obua who were on the penalties.

"My gift to Calum was to take him off near the end so that he could enjoy the applause of the fans." It's a worrying time though for Kilmarnock, with the Ayrshire side just three points above basement boys Falkirk.

The Rugby Park men have been dragged into a relegation dogfight but Killie boss Jim

Jefferies insists everyone at the club is fully aware of their plight and that they are stuck in a major battle to preserve their top-flight status.

Next up for Killie is a massive match with fellow SPL basement strugglers Falkirk on Saturday.

Jefferies said: "We were in a precarious position before the game against Hearts and that remains the case.

"We have been in a difficult position for about the last three weeks and so have five other clubs.

"After the split there is going to be a few massive games."

Man Of The Match Calum Elliot (Hearts)

Taken from the Daily Record