Hearts got their first win of the season at Tynecastle this evening but the one goal scoreline doesn't reflect the amount of chances the team had.

There were three changes to the home side from their last league fixture against St Johnstone; Nade and Black dropped to the bench, whilst Balogh missed out through illness. Kello, Driver and Palazuelos took their places in the starting line-up.

The first half didn't provide too many talking points, both teams took a while to settle and a goal was needed to liven the game up. The first card of the game was shown to Kille defender Tim Clancy in the 26th minute for his foul on Lee Wallace. The Tynecastle favourite turned the player just at the corner flag and was subsequently brought down, leading to referee Willie Collum showing Clancy the card.

Goals were what the fans wanted to see though and the first and only one came on the half hour mark for the home team. Palazuelos broke with the ball and it eventually made it's way out wide to Driver, he crossed a looping effort into the box which Kilmarnock struggled to clear. It eventually fell back to the England U21 who blasted the ball past Brown from just inside the Killie box.

The midfielder's joy at scoring in his first start of the season was clear to see as he made his way to the Hearts fans in the Main Stand pointing to his name on the back of his shirt.

Young Jambo Craig Thomson was next up for a shot on goal. He dribbled from the half way line before releasing a powerful shot from 30 yards which the keeper had to punch away.

Just before the break Jim Jefferies men had a great chance to equalise when a cross in fell to the head of David Fernandez but the Spaniard could only manage to put the ball over the bar.

The second half proved to be much livelier than the first and the visitors started off the attacking. A neat backheel from David Fernandez from the by-line fell to Craig Bryson whose shot was pushed onto the post by Kello.

The Jambos weren't giving up their lead easy and a few minutes later the home team were up the park with Thomson crossing the ball in to Suso, who found himself with space right in front of the away goal - but his shot was straight at Brown.

There was no shortage of attacking from the home team and a late tackle on captain Michael Stewart by substitute Kevin Kyle in the 58th minute gave Hearts a free kick just inside the centre circle. The ball made it's way out wide to Suso just in front of the Wheatfield Stand, who used some fancy footwork to clear two Killie players and cross the ball into Michael Stewart. His shot went just over the bar.

Hearts were not content with a one goal lead and Suso was next up for a shot at goal. The Spaniard stepped over the ball time after time as he made his way forward his quick feet fooling Kilmarnock defenders in his wake but again his shot was just wide of the target.

The game wasn't all about the home team and Kille got a free kick mid way through the second half. It was swung into the head of Kevin Kyle, his shot looked goal bound until Marion Kello plucked it out the air. The keeper hurt himself in the process as both he and the ball bounced off the post. The Slovakian was soon back on his feet and his kick-out almost lead to Hearts second as the ball fell for Driver who crossed it into the head of Obua who headed over.

Hearts made their first substitution of the match in the 74th minute when Christian Nade replaced Gary Glen. The game didn't slow down and a couple minutes later a long ball from the visitors found Kevin Kyle in space. Every Jambo in the ground was screaming for offside but the officials didn't see it, and luckily his shot hit the side netting and the game continued.

With only minutes left Danny Invincible had a late shot for Kilmarnock men but his effort in front of goal was blasted over the bar. Both sides had chances to score a late goal but it was the Jambos who came away with all three points and their first win of the season.

Hearts: Kello; Thomson, Bouzid, Goncalves, Wallace; Suso, Stewart, Palazuelos, Driver (Kucharski, 90); Obua; Glen (Nade, 71). Subs not used: MacDonald, Black, J Thomson, J Stewart, Novikovas.

Kilmarnock: Brown; Clancy, Ford, Wright, Hay (Owens, 84); Taouil, Hamill Skelton (Invincible, 61), Bryson; Sammon, Fernandez (Kyle, 56). Subs not used: Bell, O'Leary, Flannigan, Kelly.

Referee: Willie Collum

Top man: Suso Santana

Hearts World