Kilmarnock 2 Hearts 2

Richard Wilson

1 May 2011

The closing moments were frantic, as if there was a sudden realisation of what might be possible.

Having equalised with only four minutes remaining, Kilmarnock were seized with intent, and there was a sense of Hearts holding on with a kind of grim weariness.

Jim Jefferies' side have now drawn five league games in a row, the longest run since Dunfermline did the same in 1999. Hearts still have the initiative in the race with Dundee United to finish third, but they lack some of the hard-edged resolve that once provided such command. "We're making it difficult for ourselves," said Jefferies. "We were sloppy."

Kilmarnock were able, at least intermittently, to take advantage, and Kenny Shiels will wonder how his side discarded so many opportunities at the end to snatch a winning goal. James Dayton couldn't dig a shot out from his feet when clean through, and Kieran Agard hit tamely straight at Jamie Macdonald, the Hearts goalkeeper.

"We've been hard done by," said the Kilmarnock manager. "In terms of chances, there was quite a difference between the two sides."

Macdonald was also at the heart, no pun intended, of a rare moment of accomplishment in the first half when he threw himself at Alexei Eremenko's curling free-kick to touch the ball on to the crossbar.

The game was unable to shake its aimlessness in the opening period; even individuals with the ability to be graceful and shrewd were afflicted. Yet once Jamie Fowler opened the scoring in the second-half, with his first goal at Rugby Park in 14 years with the club, the game became stretched. His drive from 20 yards was deflected past Macdonald, and Hearts seemed disturbed by falling behind. "The wee bugger picked his moment, wait until I see him," said Jefferies dryly.

The home side threatened to take control, but were undone by a moment of misfortune themselves. When David Templeton's deflected shot bounced over Cammy Bell's head, the goalkeeper could only claw it away to Rudi Skacel, who fired into the net. The resurgent visitors then added a second when Ryan Stevenson headed home Craig Thomson's corner.

Kilmarnock refused to be overcome, and their ingenuity eventually brought reward. Hamill started the move, flicking a pass with the back of his heel to Dayton, and Eremenko did the same in the penalty area, working it to Agard. Swivelling sharply, the forward lashed the ball passed Macdonald.

Both managers could take some comfort from the result, although Shiels bemoaned the cautions that saw Hamill (after tugging Black's hair) and Eremenko earn bans that rule them out of the final game of the season, against Rangers at Rugby Park.

Scramble at end but little loose change

Taken from the Herald