Hearts finish off Killie to secure top six slot

Hearts secured sixth place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League after a 1-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Tynecastle saw them make the top half, comfortably enough.

Suso Santana netted the only goal, although Hearts had plenty of chances to nail the game long before full-time, such was the home side's dominance.

Jim Jefferies made two changes to the side that drew with St Mirren last Saturday, with both Laryea Kingston and Christian Nade returning to the starting line-up. Lee Wallace moved into central defence, while Eggert Jonsson and Ruben Palazuelos took up the right-back and left-back positions.

Hearts could have found themselves a goal down after two minutes when Connor Sammon found space in the box to launch a header which went fortuitously over the bar.

After the early scare the Jambos went on to have the better of the opening exchanges. A well won header from Obua landed in the path of Driver who played a neat pass to Christian Nade. The Frenchman's resulting low shot was saved by the Kilmarnock keeper.

Suso had been lively in the opening 20 minutes. After a clever one-two with Obua he carved himself the opening for a shot which looked to be sailing into the top corner, but was eventually deflected wide.

On 31 minutes Eggert Jonsson made on one of his lung bursting defence to attack runs, which he was become known for this season, and after a clever back heel gave himself the chance for a shot on the goal. The shot rebounded and landed perfectly for Suso who took aim and fired towards the bottom left hand post. The shot wasn't the most powerful, but deceived the Kille keeper and rolled over his hands into the net to give Hearts the lead. Andy Driver had to unfortunately make way for David Templeton just after the goal, after pulling up chasing ball.

Kilmarnock made two changes in the break in a bid to bolster their chances of pulling a goal back. They came close after 57 minutes when Manuel Pascali's header looped goalward and forced a superb save from Jamie MacDonald.

Hearts became increasingly frustrated for about 15 minutes in the second half with no clear route through to the Kille box. David Obua had a penalty claim waved a way, judged a corner by referee Euan Norris. From a corner Marius Zaliukas played the ball nicely into the path of Christina Nade whose effort came achingly close to putting Hearts two up.

Laryea Kingston seemed to be enjoying his football with a host of defence splitting passes. Birthday boy David Obua too was at the core of Hearts work. A cross whipped in from the Ugandan found Suso waiting at the back-post, where a difficult shot on the angle found the Killie keeper Bell, who saved well.

The boys in maroon were pushing to net the second. Kingston delivered an exquisite corner into the box where Scott Robinson eagerly awaited; his header however was drilled high over the bar.

In the dying seconds of the game David Obua chased down a ball which had taken a ricochet between David Templeton and a Killie defender, the Ugandan was flagged for offside.

Seconds later Euan Norris blew the whistle and Hearts had done what was needed to ensure an exciting end to the season. Top six here we come - indeed just six points behind city rivals Hibs.

Hearts: MacDonald; Jonsson, Zaliukas, Wallace, Palazuelos; Suso (C Thomson 83), Kingston, Black, Driver (Templeton 33); Ouba, Nade (Robinson 75). Subs not used: Ridgers, Bouzid, Novikovas, Elliot, C Thomson.

Kilmarnock: Bell; Ford, Severin, Hay, Fowler; Clancy, Pascali, Taouil (Flannigan 45), Sammon (Burchill 45), Russell (Invincible 83), Maguire. Subs not used: Combe, Kelly, Old, Skelton.

Referee: Euan Norris

Top man: David Obua

Hearts World