Match report: Ayr United 1-1 Hearts (pen 4-1)

Hearts slumped to a 4-1 penalty shoot-out defeat against Ayr United in Wednesday's Scottish Communities League Cup third round tie.

Scott Robinson's goal shortly after the interval put the Jambos in the driving seat, but a costly slip by Marius Zaliukas allowed Gareth Wardlaw to drive home the equaliser. Neither side made a breakthrough in extra time, with Ayr running out eventual 4-1 winners after penalty kicks.

Paulo Sergio made sweeping changes for the trip to Somerset Park, with Marius Zaliukas, Eggert Jonsson and Danny Grainger the only survivors from Saturday's SPL outing against St Mirren. This enabled the gaffer to hand out vital first team experience to Scott Robinson, whilst the likes of Rudi Skacel, John Sutton and Darren Barr received some welcome match practice.

Hearts, as expected, spent the opening stages threading possession from player to player along their backline as they continue to adapt to Sergio's desired passing game.

The patient approach almost paid off on eleven minutes, as Ryan McGowan's inviting cross from the right saw Sutton leap above his marker to force a powerful header goal-wards, with keeper Kevin Cuthbert producing a sharp dive to his left to tip the ball round the post.

Minutes later, Templeton hit the side netting after a surging run into the box, as the Jambos continued to pin the hosts back.

Ayr, however, were for the fight and caused a moment of panic when Alan Trouten latched on to an awkward back pass from Darren Barr, but Janos Balogh was on hand to clear the ball to safety.

This prompted a surge on goal by the home side, Michael Moffat going close with a volley from 20 yards out.

The striker was on hand again soon after, showing some deft touches on the right before swinging in a pin point cross that was met by Wardlaw, his looping header missing Balogh's crossbar by inches.

Ayr grew stronger by the minute and should have taken the lead when Eddie Malone's header from McGowan's corner somehow evaded the bottom right post.

The Jam Tarts retaliated briefly, as Eggert Jonsson's curling effort from 25 yards almost found its way into Cuthbert's top corner, but the Edinburgh side were struggling to establish dominance against their First Division counterparts.

The home side sat deep with two banks of four in the middle of the park, ensuring their opponents were given minimal space in which to manoeuvre. Their game plan certainly stifled Hearts, and ensured they went into half time on level terms.

Wardlaw's speculative shot from the halfway line almost found the net at the start of the second half, but instead it was the visitors who seized the advantage.

Danny Grainger's corner was cleared to the edge of the box where it was met by Scott Robinson who took a touch before dragging a shot across goal and into the bottom left corner.

The breakthrough provided the boys in maroon with some much needed breathing space, but they still faced a formidable task against a battling Ayr side.

The hour mark, however, proved to be a turning point in the game with two key incidents in either penalty box.

Firstly, Jonsson appeared to have nudged the ball over the line following a scramble in the Ayr box. Referee Iain Brines, having consulted his linesman, opted for disallowing the goal and instead issued Jonsson with a yellow card for handling the ball.

Ayr then immediately instigated an attack of their own, yet the ball appeared to harmlessly slip into the path of Marius Zaliukas on the edge of the area. The skipper, however, lost his footing on the slippery surface, leaving Wardlaw with an open path on goal. The target man bore down on Balogh before calmly slotting the ball into the left corner amidst frantic celebrations in the home section.

The game waved back and forth after that, with John Sutton testing Cuthbert with a close range header on 74 minutes as Hearts looked to get back in front.

Paulo then introduced Mehdi Taouil in place of David Templeton; the Moroccan's Kilmarnock connections earning him a hostile reception from the home crowd.

The closing stages were marred by torrential rain and lightning as the 90 minutes came to an end without any notable goalmouth opportunities, thus sending the game into extra time.

The increasingly treacherous conditions were affecting the quality of football on display, but Hearts were seizing control of the game the longer it went on. Andrew Driver, an extra time substitute, provided a breath of fresh air down the left flank. He teed up both Smith and Skacel, but both were denied by last ditch blocks. Driver then found himself with a shot at goal from five yards out, but Trouten cleared the ball over the bar just as the Englishman looked certain to score.

With neither team looking likely to concede, the tie went to penalty kicks. Grainger and Skacel both missed their efforts from 12 yards, allowing Mark Robert to slam home the winner to seal a 4-1 victory.

Ayr United: Kevin Cuthbert, Jonathon Tiffony, Eddie Malone, Chris Smith, John Robertson, Andy Geggan, Michael McGowan, James McKernon, Gareth Wardlaw, Alan Trouten, Michael Moffat. Subs not used: Ryan McWilliams, Mark Roberts, Ross Robertson, Ryan Connolly, Alex Burke

Hearts: Janos Balogh, McGowan, Darren Barr, Marius Zaliukas, Danny Grainger, Eggert Jonsson, Scott Robinson, Rudi Skacel, David Templeton Templeton (Taouil 75), Arvydas Novikovas (Driver 103), John Sutton (Sutton 82). Subs not used: Jamie MacDoanld, Adrian Mrowiec.

Referee: Ian Brines

Top Man: Scott Robinson

Hearts World