Heart of Midlothian 0-3 Kilmarnock

Hearts suffered a heavy defeat to Kilmarnock on Saturday afternoon as a Paul Heffernan hat-trick sealed an emphatic
3-0 win for the Ayrshire side at Tynecastle.

Killie went ahead shortly before half time as an unmarked Heffernan converted James Dayton's cross from close range. A further two second half goals from the striker then condemned Hearts to a second successive league defeat.

John McGlynn made two enforced changes to the side that lost at Tannadice last weekend, with Darren Barr replacing the injured skipper Marius Zaliukas in central defence. In midfield, meanwhile, the suspended Ryan Stevenson made way for Scott Robinson.

It took until the 23rd minute for the first half chance to arrive as Jamie Walker headed a Fraser Mullen cross over the bar from six yards out. With Killie pressing high up the park and limiting space within their own half, the Jambos struggled to implement their passing game and increasingly found themselves knocking the ball along their backline.

McGlynn was forced into making his first change on the half hour mark when Danny Wilson and Darren Barr had a clash of heads, resulting in the latter being stretchered off and replaced by Dylan McGowan.

The visitors took the lead shortly after as Dayton found himself in acres of space down on the left flank, enabling him to dispatch a pinpoint cross for Heffernan to tap in from close range.

The gaffer introduced John Sutton for the start of the second half as Hearts changed to a 4-4-2 in a bid to get themselves back into the game. The gamble nearly paid off as the Jam Tarts enjoyed a bright start to the half, the best chance falling to Scott Robinson who forced a diving save from Cameron Bell with a half volley from the edge of the box.

Kilmarnock then threatened on the counter attack as Dayton found space on the right channel before seeing his angled shot tapped round the post by Macdonald.

Minutes later, however, Kenny Shiels' men were two goals to the good. A corner from the left was played back across goal where Heffernan reacted first to fire a low shot into the bottom right corner.

Michael Ngoo had a header cleared off shortly after, but the third and final goal once again belonged to the visitors.

Sloppy play from Hearts on the edge of the box enabled Borja Perez to get in behind the backline and pull a shot across Macdonald. The keeper's rebound fell into the path of Heffernan who sealed his hat-trick by slamming the ball into the empty net.

Hearts attempted to push forward despite the game being all but over, but were by and large restricted to corner kicks as Kilmarnock held on to secure the three points on what was a miserable afternoon for the Jambos.

Hearts: Macdonald; Mullen, Webster, Barr (McGowan 37), Wilson; Robinson, Tapping, Holt (Sutton 45); B.King (Novikovas 67), Ngoo, Walker. Subs not used: Ridgers, Taouil, Driver, Prychynenko.

Kimarnock: Bell; Barbour, Sissoko, Pascali (O'Leary 73), Tesselaar; Fowler, Clingan (McKenzie 82), Perez, Dayton (Racchi 65); Heffernan, Gros. Subs not used: Letheren, Hay, Ibrahim, O'Hara.

Referee: Craig Thomson

Top Man: Callum Tapping

Hearts World