Kilmarnock 1 Hearts 0

Home hero Liam Kelly hailed by team-mates after hitting Rugby Park winner
27 Dec 2012 07:58

Gordon Parks

KELLY netted from the spot in a close encounter against the Jambos and showed the form that has caught the eye of a number of interested clubs.
Liam Kelly is congratulated after hitting the decisive goal Liam Kelly is congratulated after hitting the decisive goal

JAMES DAYTON last night hailed team-mate Liam Kelly as a priceless part of a Kilmarnock side which is starting to combine flair with fighting steel.

The Rugby Park wide man earned a first-half penalty which was converted by the in-demand Scotland midfielder to secure the win over Hearts.

As clubs start to circle Kelly as the January window looms, Dayton is convinced the 22-year-old is destined for bigger things.

And with Celtic the latest club credited with an interest, the Englishman is desperate for his side to hold on to Kelly for a bit longer.
Hearts boss John McGlynn: All we're missing is killer touch in front of goal

He said: “I would like to see him stay. He is a top player who is now vital to our team.

“You want your pals to do well and go to the next level and I’d love to see him do that but from the Kilmarnock point of view we want him to stay.

“He deserved the international recognition last month and since then there have been more people speaking about him in the game.

“He is a hard-working, strong character who also scores goals.

“In his first year under Mixu Paatelainen he got about eight from midfield, which is a good return.

“Last season he played in a deeper role whereas in the last few games he has been a bit higher up the park and that shows in the way he is scoring again. That’s what managers covet, goalscoring midfielders.”

Dayton, who is hoping to be handed a new deal at Rugby Park, was the creative inspiration behind the success over the Jambos.

However, to earn the points, Killie also had to survive a second-half onslaught and the 24-year-old admits it was character rather than skill which eventually pulled them through.

He said: “It was a bit nerve-racking towards the end. We were on the back foot but we have something this season we maybe lacked last year.

“A bit of fight and grit to see out 1-0 games and not lose last-minute goals. That’s what we had this time.

“We’re top-six now and that’s what we want and hopefully I can stay in the team. I believe I’ve shown over the last three games that I should be in the team.

“For the penalty I dropped my shoulder, the defender has gone for it and stuck out a leg. It was a clear foul.

“I’m out of contract in the summer, but no one has spoken to me yet so I just have to wait and see.” The opener arrived in 25 minutes and there was no argument about ref Steven McLean’s decision to point to the spot after Dayton was tripped by Andy Webster’s naive lunge.

Kilmarnock 1 Hearts 0 Jamie MacDonald can't deny Liam Kelly from the spot

Kelly then drilled his spot-kick low past Jamie McDonald in emphatic style to take his tally to five for the season.

It was no less than Kenny Shiels’ side deserved from an opening spell which had already seen a Paul Heffernan goal disallowed for offside.

Killie posed a potent attacking threat with Borja Perez pulling the strings to supply Dayton and Cillian Sheridan who were stretching Hearts on both flanks.

Hearts then had a goal chalked off on the half-hour mark when John Sutton was penalised for barging in the build-up to a move that saw Gordon Smith find the bottom right-hand corner with a 25-yard strike.

Killie lost the influential Perez before the half was out as he limped off to be replaced by Lee Johnson.

Hearts were denied a leveller just three minutes after the interval as Andy Driver cut inside and curled a right-footed strike which was destined for the top corner until Cammy Bell tipped the ball over.

The Jambos then laid siege to the Killie goal and Bell needed lengthy treatment after taking a boot in the face from Sutton’s challenge as the waves of attacks continued.

A Dayton strike from distance in 54 minutes was blocked by Jamie McDonald as Killie enjoyed some momentary respite from their defensive duties.

Bell bailed out his side again in 61 minutes when he beat out a Mehdi Taouil thunderbolt as the pressure mounted.

Hearts were then gifted the chance to level when mistakes by Michael Nelson and Mohamadou Sissoko allowed sub Callum Paterson to race clear but the youngster rushed a tame shot into the hands of Bell.

Chances continued to fall for Hearts but the lack of a clinical touch which has haunted their season was again all too evident.

Their misery could have been compounded when Marius Zaliukas hauled back Heffernan as he chased a through ball but the ref only flashed a yellow.

With Killie boss Kenny Shiels serving the last of his three-game ban, it was left to assistant Jimmy Nicholl to assess the win.

He said: “Sometimes you have to give the opposition credit for stopping you playing. If they do that then it’s all about how to win a game and I’m delighted to get the points.”

Taken from the Daily Record