Kilmarnock 0-1 Hearts

Last Updated: April 20 2013, 17:23 BST

John Sutton's early goal proved enough to put Hearts firmly in the running for seventh place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, although they made life difficult for themselves at Rugby Park.

Sutton finished from close range in the fifth minute and Hearts were rarely troubled before Cammy Bell denied them a second when he saved Ryan Stevenson's 62nd-minute penalty.

But they had to survive some late pressure with Kris Boyd passing up two good chances for the hosts.

Hearts manager Gary Locke stressed on Thursday that his team still had much to play for with about £300,000 more prize money available if they moved up from 10th place to seventh.

The club's tight finances were later underlined when Darren Barr and Gordon Smith were told they would not be offered new deals, although the former returned from injury to start today.

The victory did not move Hearts up the table but it did take them level on points with Hibernian, who host Aberdeen on Monday, and just two points off Kilmarnock, who slipped out of the top six in the dying seconds of the final pre-split fixtures.

Locke's players heeded his words with a perfect start, although they were given a helping hand by Mo Sissoko, who misjudged Stevenson's diagonal ball.

Michael Ngoo decided the angle was too tight to shoot, but the on-loan Liverpool striker cut back inside Sissoko and showed the awareness to place a left-footed pass across the goalmouth which gave Sutton the simple task of tapping the ball home.

Centre-back Sissoko almost got his team into trouble again when his weak clearance allowed Jamie Hamill to lob the ball into the six-yard box with Jamie Walker glancing a header past the far post.

Kilmarnock handed Rabiu Ibrahim his first start since his January move from Celtic and the midfielder was at the heart of one good passing move but that was a rarity in a disjointed first-half display from the hosts.

Walker had a couple of decent long-range efforts for Hearts, who comfortably dealt with Kilmarnock's attacks, although they were grateful to see James Fowler's shot spin wide off the back of Andy Webster.

Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels made some major changes at half-time with Ibrahim and Jeroen Tesselaar going off and Chris Johnston and Borja Perez coming on. Mark O'Hara dropped back as Killie changed from 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2.

Hearts were soon forced into a change when Ngoo went off with a shoulder injury as Dale Carrick came on.

Johnston gave the home fans in the 3,572 crowd something to cheer with a run and shot, although Jamie MacDonald saved comfortably. Hearts retained their edge at this point and had the perfect chance to wrap up the game after Sissoko brought down Walker as the wide player ran into the box.

However, Bell stopped Stevenson's penalty and then denied Jason Holt from the rebound. Ryan O'Leary soon clumsily barged into Walker for what was arguably a stronger penalty claim but referee Murray waved play on.

Hearts had another good chance when substitute Arvydas Novikovas embarked on a strong run and delivered an excellent cross into the danger area. Carrick got there just before Bell but could only knock the ball just over the bar.

The home side finally found their attacking feet in the final 20 minutes and put Hearts under serious pressure.

Boyd had a free header from close range following Johnston's cross but his downward header bounced off the hard surface and over the bar.

MacDonald then pulled off an excellent stop from Boyd's penalty-box strike and both Sammy Clingan and O'Hara fired just wide from close range as Hearts held on.The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

Foul by Borja Perez on Ryan Stevenson, free kick awarded. Booking for James Fowler. Direct free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
91

Mark O'Hara produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
90

Unfair challenge on Paul Heffernan by Ryan Stevenson results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Borja Perez.
89

Correction - Kris Boyd takes a shot. Jamie MacDonald makes a save. Corner from the right by-line taken by William Gros, Jamie Hamill makes a clearance. Dylan McGowan comes on in place of Darren Barr.
87

Kris Boyd takes a shot. Save by Jamie MacDonald. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by William Gros, clearance made by Jamie Hamill.
87

Unfair challenge on Borja Perez by Dale Carrick results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Borja Perez.
87

The assistant referee signals for offside against Arvydas Novikovas. Mohamadou Sissoko restarts play with the free kick.
86

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kris Boyd by Danny Wilson. Sammy Clingan fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
84

Unfair challenge on Chris Johnston by Jamie Hamill results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Borja Perez.
82

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Johnston by Dale Carrick. Sammy Clingan takes the free kick.
82

Header from close range by Kris Boyd clears the bar.
81

Close range shot by Dale Carrick goes over the bar.
79

Correction - Arvydas Novikovas joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jamie Walker.
74

Ryan Stevenson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on William Gros. Borja Perez takes the direct free kick.
75

James Fowler concedes a free kick for a foul on Arvydas Novikovas. Free kick taken by Kevin McHattie.
75

(Hearts) makes a substitution, with Arvydas Novikovas coming on for Jason Holt.
74

The assistant referee flags for offside against William Gros. Jamie MacDonald takes the indirect free kick.
70

Kevin McHattie concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul Heffernan. Direct free kick taken by James Fowler.
70

Ryan O'Leary goes off and William Gros comes on.
69

Ross Barbour challenges Jason Holt unfairly and gives away a free kick. Booking for Ross Barbour. Kevin McHattie restarts play with the free kick.
68

Outswinging corner taken by Borja Perez, Andy Webster manages to make a clearance.
67

Unfair challenge on Ross Barbour by John Sutton results in a free kick. Ryan O'Leary restarts play with the free kick.
67

Mark O'Hara produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
67

Unfair challenge on Chris Johnston by Dale Carrick results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Sammy Clingan.
66

Foul by Kris Boyd on Jamie Walker, free kick awarded. Kevin McHattie restarts play with the free kick.
62

The offside flag is raised against Mark O'Hara. Kevin McHattie takes the free kick.
62

Jamie Walker challenges Ross Barbour unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ross Barbour restarts play with the free kick.
61

Penalty awarded for a foul by Mohamadou Sissoko on Jamie Walker. Penalty taken by Ryan Stevenson saved by Cameron Bell. Kilmarnock 0-1 Hearts.Close range shot by Jason Holt misses to the left of the target.
60

Shot from just outside the box by Jamie Walker misses to the right of the target.
59

Ryan Stevenson takes a shot from inside the box clearing the bar.
56

Chris Johnston takes a shot. Save by Jamie MacDonald.
54

Dale Carrick takes a shot. Save by Cameron Bell.
52

Dale Carrick produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses right.
50

Dale Carrick is brought on as a substitute for Michael Ngoo.
48

James Fowler produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the target.
47

Mark O'Hara fouled by Michael Ngoo, the ref awards a free kick. Cameron Bell restarts play with the free kick.
45

The second half begins.

Jeroen Tesselaar goes off and Borja Perez comes on. Rabiu Ibrahim goes off and Chris Johnston comes on.
45

The referee blows for half time.

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Rabiu Ibrahim from the left by-line to the near post, Darren Barr manages to make a clearance.
42

James Fowler takes a shot. Blocked by Darren Barr.
42

Foul by Darren Barr on Rabiu Ibrahim, free kick awarded. Sammy Clingan takes the direct free kick.
41

Jason Holt fouled by Jeroen Tesselaar, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie Hamill takes the free kick.
36

Jamie Walker takes a shot. Save made by Cameron Bell.
35

Effort from the edge of the box by Jamie Walker goes wide of the left-hand post.
34

Kevin McHattie challenges Mark O'Hara unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sammy Clingan takes the free kick.
33

Correction - The official flags Kris Boyd offside. Danny Wilson restarts play with the free kick.
30

James Fowler gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darren Barr. Danny Wilson takes the free kick.
30

The referee blows for offside against Kris Boyd. Danny Wilson takes the free kick.
30

Free kick awarded for a foul by Rabiu Ibrahim on Jason Holt. Kevin McHattie restarts play with the free kick.
27

Headed effort from deep inside the area by Jeroen Tesselaar misses to the left of the goal.
25

Corner taken right-footed by Sammy Clingan to the near post, Darren Barr manages to make a clearance.
24

Unfair challenge on Kevin McHattie by Kris Boyd results in a free kick. Danny Wilson takes the direct free kick.
23

Jamie Walker has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.
22

Shot from deep inside the area by John Sutton clears the crossbar.
21

Kris Boyd is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
18

The assistant referee signals for offside against Kris Boyd. Jamie Hamill takes the free kick.
13

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mohamadou Sissoko on Michael Ngoo. Free kick taken by Jamie Hamill.
10

Michael Ngoo is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Cameron Bell.
10

Corner from left by-line taken by Sammy Clingan.
6

John Sutton fires in a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Kilmarnock 0-1 Hearts.Assist on the goal came from Michael Ngoo.
3

Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren Barr on Rabiu Ibrahim. Sammy Clingan takes the direct free kick.
2

The assistant referee flags for offside against Kris Boyd. Jamie MacDonald restarts play with the free kick.
2

Jamie Walker has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide right of the goal.
1

The referee gets the game started.

Taken from sportinglife.com