Jambos maintain sensational away form!

The old saying 'It's a game of two halves' would cover Hearts performance in this match.

In first 45 minutes not much fell for them and Kilmarnock seemed to have control of the game. However some inspired substitutions changed the team's fortunes around and thanks to two goals from Stephen Elliott all three points headed back east to Tynecastle.

Jim Jefferies made four changes to the team that lost to St Johnstone. Kevin Kyle and Calum Elliot and Kevin Kyle dropped out the squad while Jamie MacDonald and Ryan Stevenson started on the bench. Kello, Templeton and Obua all made the starting line-up as did Lee Wallace who played his first game since getting injured while playing for Scotland back in September.

The start of the game wasn't too exciting for either set of fans; both teams struggled to get any flow going, though inside the first ten minutes Hearts were the more attacking of the two sides

Hearts first real chance of the match came in the 12th minute when David Templeton skipped past two players. He played the ball into the feet of Palazuelos but his shot from 30 yards out went over the bar.

However, it was Kilmarnock who opened the scoring in the 18th minute when a long range effort from Rui Miguel sneaked in past Kello's left hand side to give the Ayrshire men the lead.

The next effort on goal didn't come until the 32nd minute when a corner came in from the right for Hearts. It fell to the feet of Bouzid but his effort was blasted wide.

David Templeton was trying to create chances down the right for Hearts but most of the attacking play was now coming from the home side, though neither team looked likely to increase the scoring in the first half.

Ian Black had another effort on goal after a long Bouzid free kick came off the Kilmarnock defence to his feet but his effort went over the bar.

Hearts made one change at half time with Novikovas making way for Stephen Elliott as they looked to claw back the 1-0 deficit.

The visitors started the second half brighter than first. David Templeton had switched to the left and was trying to link up with Lee Wallace who was pushing forward more and causing some problems for the Killie defence.

Jim Jefferies was obviously not happy with the way his side were playing and decided to make a double substitution in the 63rd minute. David Obua and Ian Black left the field to make way for Ryan Stevenson and Gary Glen.

Although Hearts picked up their play in the second half Kilmarnock were still pushing for a second. In the 71st minute they almost came close when Liam Kelly's shot from 25 yards out went screaming past Kello's left hand post.

Kilmarnock then had another chance when Zaliukus misjudged the ball and it bounced off his head into the path of Eremenko but luckily for the Jambos he smacked it into the air and over the bar.

Hearts equalised in the 73rd minute when a cross in from the right from Jonsson fell to Stephen Elliott and the substitute made no mistake in blasting his shot into the net from 12 yards out, much to the delight of the travelling support.

The game was starting to come to life, and Kilmarnock had a great opportunity to take the lead a couple minutes later. Eremenko got the ball in his own half and played a brilliant ball through to Sammon, who played it out to the right but Kello made an excellent save to keep the score level.

It was the home side again who were close to coming level, a dangerous ball was crossed into the box towards Connor Sammon but Zaliukus got there first and his clearance blasted off the bar and went out for a corner.

Hearts were still pushing forward and took the lead for the first time in the match in the 87th minute. Gary Glen back-heeled to Templeton. It didn't quite reach the young winger but he fought to win the ball back and fed Stephen Elliott. His effort squirmed under Cammy Bell to send the away end wild.

Just a couple minutes later Kilmarnock were back up the other end of the park, the ball fell to the head of Eremenko and his effort looked goal bound but Kello made an excellent save to stretch and tip it over the bar.

The ball went straight up the other end of the park and Hearts found themselves three on two, Templeton played the ball through the defence to Elliott on his right, however his effort was well held by Cammy Bell. It probably should have been the hat-trick, but no bother nonetheless for Hearts had made it seven away wins on the bounce.

Kilmarnock: Bell, Clancy, Hay, Fowler (Silva, 85), Wright, Sissoko, Pascali, Kelly, Eremenko, Taouil (Berntsson,66), Miguel (Sammon, 71) Subs not used: Jakkola, Old, Gros, Kennedy

Hearts: Kello, Jonsson, Zaliukas, Bouzid, Wallace; Templeton, Mrowiec, Black (Stevenson, 63), Palazuelos;,Novikovas (S Elliott 45) Obua (Glen, 63). Subs not used: MacDonald, C Thomson, Barr, McGowan.

Referee: Steve Conroy

Top man: Lee Wallace

Hearts World