35 mins
It seemed a resonant time for a Hearts manager to feel under siege. It was 12 months ago to the weekend that George Burley abruptly left the club, when they were top of the table, after disagreements with Romanov. No manager at Tynecastle can ever feel secure, but perhaps Ivanauskas met Pressley because the players are growing weary of the constant rotation. The 59 changes of personnel in the past 11 matches seems to have drained the team of its purpose.
It
would not properly acknowledge Kilmarnock’s
superiority to say that Hearts were undone by their
own means. With the sounds of the game still ringing
in his ears, Jim Jefferies sat down and spoke of
what this victory meant for his side. Kilmarnock, he
said, had shown what they were capable of, having
come to a hard venue and deservedly won. Then he was
reminded that this was his first-ever victory at
Tynecastle against the team he once managed. “It’s not about that,” he said. “It’s not any sweeter because it’s Hearts.” It might be significant, though
Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas had made four changes as he continued his squad rotation policy.
Robbie Neilson returned at right-back, while there were also recalls for Mirsad, Roman Bednar and fit-again Edgaras Jankauskas.
Andrius Velicka, Jamie Mole and Marius Zaliukas dropped to the bench while Saul Mikoliunas was suspended.
Fit-again Gordon Greer replaced Simon Ford in Kilmarnock's defence, which was quickly under pressure.
Deividas
Cesnauskis' clever flick set Jankauskas clear and
only a deflection off a Kilmarnock defender stopped
the Lithuanian putting the Jambos ahead and Beslija
also had an effort deflected wide.
Killie rode out the initial storm and James Fowler shot over the Hearts bar from the edge of the box when he should have done better.
And the visitors took the lead when Danny Invincibile (right) finished beautifully after being fed by Naismith, who had burst forward from midfield.
His path made easier by a slip on the greasy surface from Hearts skipper Pressley and a slip by Beslija led to Kilmarnock's second goal.
 |
|
 |
Misfortune was not a fleeting presence. When Mirsad Beslija slipped and lost possession to Gary Wales 20 yards out, the striker hit a firm shot that bounced off Christophe Berra and wrong-footed Gordon, who shook his head as the ball trundled into the net. “It was on target anyway,” the striker smiled.
Paul Hartley tried to haul the home side back into the game, but goalkeeper Graeme Smith beat out his free-kick and dived on the loose ball with several attackers waiting to pounce.
Killie
almost went 3-0 up!
Kilmarnock were bewildering their opponents and when
Invincibile nodded across goal the ball was met by
Naismith, who headed against the bar. Jefferies
crumpled his face in disbelief
Hartley forced Smith into another fine save after the break following a good run by the Scotland midfielder.
Then Killie forward David Fernandez flicked on for
Peter Leven, who ought to have done better than fire
against Gordon's legs from eight yards.
Another slip took its toll, when Beslija’s momentum
sent him skidding across the turf and slamming into
an advertising hoarding. After treatment, he was
stretchered off. Kilmarnock’s dogged application
allowed few glints of light for their opponents, and
they became desperate. Bruno Aguiar was brought on
for Lee Wallace, whose departure was jeered, and
there was puzzlement among the players as they tried
to decipher if Neil McCann was to move to left-back
or if they were switching to a back three. It turned
out to be the latter.
With the excellent David Fernandez and Peter Leven harrying the Hearts defenders, and the Kilmarnock defence resolute, the home side could only deliver a series of crosses that Smith dealt with comfortably. McCann swung one ball deep to the back post, but Andrius Velicka headed wide. Frustration began to consume Hearts and when the ball went out for a throw-in to the visitors and Billy Brown, the Kilmarnock assistant manager, held onto it, Hartley rushed over and angrily pushed him. “I was just trying to get the ball back quickly,” Hartley said. “I get on fine with Billy.” It is the Hearts manager who has the problem to deal with..
Manager Jefferies Post Match Comments... "I
thought most of the football came from us and we carried out the plan to
perfection. We said at half-time if we do what we practise in training
then we will win this game. We worked hard, we kept possession when we
had to and we didn't take any undue
risks. It is a great way to bounce back after the Motherwell defeat with
victories against Aberdeen and now at Tynecastle, which is a difficult
place to come to. This win shows that heavy defeat (against Motherwell)
was maybe a bit of a
freak result and that if we do the right things we
are a different side. I think Hearts were maybe a bit surprised at the
quality we had and the way we were able to keep possession. We said 'if
we've got the ball, they haven't' and that frustrated them. I had a few
harsh words after the Motherwell game but today they have made us proud
because every single player was magnificent and I have told them that in
the dressing room. If they got all the criticism a couple of weeks ago
then they deserve all the credit today. They are expected to beat us
here but we knew if we could get through the first 20 minutes of the
second half then we could frustrate them and get the fans a little bit
edgy. They are still a good
team and they still have good players so you have to work hard, but it
was a great team effort from us with guys like David Fernandez and
Frazer Wright outstanding. We have good players, and if they do their
jobs, we are a hard team to beat".
Sandy's Match Pic's are
HERE
