Jonsson and Nade seal vital three points

It was certainly a game of two halves for Hearts at Rugby Park. They'll want to forget about the first 45 minutes and talk about the second as the men in maroon claimed their first victory since a win against Hamilton on the 26th September with a 2-1 win against Kilmarnock, this afternoon.

Hearts made four changes to the team which lost 2-1 to St Johnstone last week. Obua, Glen and Black dropped to the bench with Goncalves suspended. Kucharski, Kingston, Craig Thomson and Jonsson were all brought into the starting line-up.

Both teams went into this game knowing defeat could leave them bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, if other results went against them and the match started off like a relegation battle - scrappy and desperate.

Kilmarnock were the more attacking of the two sides and the first real chance came from a corner in the 7th minute from Mehdi Taouil. His ball was flicked on, causing confusion in the Hearts box but the danger was cleared before any real threat was made to the Hearts goal.

Late challenges were flying in from both sides and Craig Thomson was lucky not to be shown a yellow card for his foul on Taouil, the young Hearts star only receiving a warning from referee Steven Nicholls and Kilmarnock a free-kick.

Jim Jefferies' side continued to look the more threatening of the two sides and thought they had scored in the 32nd minute when Fowler put the ball in the box which found the head of Old. He flicked it onto Hamill who blasted the ball into the Hearts net, but fortunately for the Jambos the linesman had his flag up for offside.

Again the next real chance of the match fell to the home side when Taouil, who was causing Hearts real problems, crossed a ball in from the right finding the boot of Fernandez, whose shot was just wide of Balogh's post.

Just before Half-time Kilmarnock had another corner and Fernandez whipped the ball into the head of Kevin Kyle. His shot went straight into the hands of Balogh. Kilmarnock were determined to go in at half-time with a goal and Fowler was next up with a shot, but his effort from outside the box was deflected shot over the bar. The subsequent corner in caused problems for the Jambos defence, Balogh managed to tip the ball away from the bar into the box, where it appeared to hit the arm of Nade. Kilmarnock claimed for a penalty, but the referee thought there was nothing in it and allowed play to continue.

The Jambos made one change at half-time. Lee Wallace staying in the changing room with Ian Black replacing him. The former Inverness man he slotted into left midfield with Palazuelos filling the left back role.

Hearts started the second have positively with a shot in from Jason Thomson looking goal-bound but it deflected off the head of Kingston to go over the bar. The Jambos were trying to attack the Kilmarnock goal and it seemed the team talk at half time had made an impact as they pushed forward.

The home side however were not sitting back and Fraser Wright had a good shot saved by Balogh early in the second half this was quickly followed by another piece of attacking play when Jamie Hamill ran in on a loose ball, but Janos again read it well and was quick off his line to block the shot and send it wide for a corner.

Although Kilmarnock had the clearer opportunities to score it was Hearts who opened the scoring. The Jambos won a free kick in the 67th minute for a foul on Nade. The ball was swung into the box by Craig Thomson and fell to the foot of Jonsson who remained calm to slot the ball home, giving the travelling supporters something to sing about.

It wasn't long before the fans were jumping out their seats again when Hearts doubled their lead in the 70th minute. Craig Thomson swung in a dangerous ball from a corner kick to the head of Christian Nade and the big Hearts striker headed home.

Kilmarnock were not giving up and with only a few minutes left to play Bryson played a dangerous ball into the six yard box but Jamie Hamill could only hit it wide.

The home side were determined to at least get a point from the game and earned themselves a penalty late in the second half when Kucharski brought down Sammon in the box. Kevin Kyle stepped up to take the spot kick but his effort was saved by Balogh.

The game was not finished yet and Hearts clean sheet wasn't to be as in the 89th minute Craig Bryson latched on to Kyle's header and slotted the ball past Balogh for what was the end of any real action in the match.

Kilmarnock: Brown, Hay, Wright, O;Leary, Old(Sammon 76), Hamill, Bryson, Taouil, FowlerKyle, Fernandez (Burchill 66), Subs Not Used: Bell, Pascalli, Owens, Flannigan, Kelly

Hearts: Balogh, Wallace (Black 45), Kucharski,Bouzid, J Thomson, Palazuelos,Jonsson, Stewart, C Thomson, Kingston (Elliot 74,) Nade (Mulrooney, 90) Subs Not Used: Kello, Obua, Novikovas, Glen, Mulrooney

Referee: Steven Nicholls

Top man: Eggert Jonsson

Hearts World