Hearts consolidated their third-top position in
the Scottish Premier League following a
nightmare three minutes for in-form Kilmarnock. The game was
marred by several Hearts fans being arrested just before & during the
interval. (See pic below left). Also this UEFA Cup challenge had many of
the international fans flying in to watch their beloved Killie.
Allan (fae the USA) & Oboab (fae Portugal) are pictured right.
The visitors collapsed after Alan Maybury broke
the deadlock five minutes after the break with a controlled drive from
the edge of the box.
G
reg
Shields was sent off soon after for a desperate, last-ditch challenge
and, from the free kick, Mark De Vries fired Hearts into a commanding
two-goal lead.
Substitute Kevin McKenna added a third 10
minutes from time as Hearts matched the scoreline achieved last week
against Dunfermline Athletic, their other main challengers for third
spot.
Hearts head coach Craig Levein had made just
one change, despite all the talk of a sickness bug at Tynecastle.
Former Celtic defender Stephane Mahe's ankle
knock forced him to miss out and he was replaced with Austin McCann.
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies made two
changes, with Chris Innes and former Hearts defender Gary Locke
returning at the expense of the injured Freddy Dindeleux and flu-struck
Alan Mahood.
It was Hearts who exerted the early pressure
and defender Andy Webster came close with a header that went just over
the bar.
Kilmarnock defender Greg Shields almost put
through his own goal with a close-range backpass and goalkeeper Colin
Meldrum did well to clear for a corner.
The visitors did not threaten until the 16th
minute, when Steve Fulton's powerful drive was deflected inches past the
post.
Hearts
continued to dominate, but Killie's SPL young player of the month, Kris
Boyd, came closest to breaking the deadlock when his poke from the edge
of the box under pressure from Greg Shields slipped just wide.
The home side were dealt a blow when Scott
Severin failed to shrug off an earlier knock and had to be replaced by
Stephen Simmons.
Hearts finally made the breakthrough five
minutes after the break.
Maybury was allowed to advance to the edge of
the Killie box before delivering a bending drive off the inside of the
far post.
Killie were shaken and, when Stamp found the
same hole in the Killie defence three minutes later, he was tripped by
Shields.
The defender, cautioned for dissent in the
first half, was shown a second yellow card.
From the free kick, Meldrum failed to gather
after coming off his line and De Vries turned sharply to drive the ball
low through a sea of legs and into the net.
McKenna pounced after a short corner to fire a
low drive the ball inside the near post to ensure victory.
Goals: Maybury 50, de Vries 53, McKenna
79.
Kilmarnock: Meldrum, Canero, Innes,
Shields, McLaughlin, Fowler, McDonald, Fulton, Locke (Canning 66), Boyd
(McSwegan 58), McLaren (Di Giacomo 59).
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Hay.
Sent Off: Shields (53).
Booked: Locke, Shields, McLaughlin,
Innes.
Attendance: 10,426
