The visitors were on top right from the start and Kilmarnock
struggled to cope with the powerful presence of De Vries.
Kilmarnock gave a better account of themselves in the second period
but seldom threatened a comeback.
Hearts midfielder Phil Stamp squandered a great chance to score after
four minutes when he surged into the area before sending an awkward
volley just over the crossbar.
The visitors were making all of the early running and Scott Severin's
tested Kilmarnock goalkeeper Colin Meldrum with a long range effort
before the same player fired a shot across the face of goal and wide of
the post from the corner of the six-yard box.
Hearts took the lead in the 14th minute when Patrick Kisnorbo fed the
ball through to De Vries, who rounded the hesitant Meldrum before
slotting home.
Hearts continued to pile on the pressure and Greg Shields was forced
to make a goal-line clearance to deny Kisnorbo.
The Killie defender kept the scoreline down again a few minutes later
when he intercepted Alan Maybury's cross to clear for a corner before
Dennis Wyness could slot home.
De Vries' was causing the all sorts of problems with his strong
running and close control, and five minutes before the break he met
Severin's pass only for Meldrum to block his shot.
Unfortunately for the Killie goalkeeper, the corner led to Hearts'
second goal when Hamill flighted the ball into the path of De Vries and
the towering Dutchman bulleted a header past Meldrum.
De Vries could have had a hat-trick before the interval when he
unleashed a a fierce shot in injury time that fell just inches wide of
the post.
Killie boss Jim Jefferies used up all three substitutions at
half-time in a desperate attempt to haul his side back into the game.
Killie boss Jim Jefferies used up all three substitutions at
half-time in a desperate attempt to haul his side back into the game.
Gary McSwegan, Alan Mahood and Garry Hay all failed to reappear for
the second half and were replaced by Stephen Murray, Martin Hardie and
Colin Nish.
Jefferies clearly had a few choice words for his players first half
efforts in the dressing-room at half-time and his players emerged with
more fight and determination.
Nish was unlucky when his shot cannoned off Webster before Hardie's
header skimmed the crossbar after he met Steve Fulton's cross.
But Hearts showed they were still a threat when Kisnorbo's throw-in
was met by De Vries, who knocked the ball into the path of Severin only
for him to nod wide.
With 15 minutes remaining Kilmarnock had a chance to pull themselves
back into the game when James Fowler produced a great run into the area
before lining up the shot for Hardie but the former Partick man fired
well over.
Canero came closer a couple of minutes later but he also failed to
find the target, sending his 25-yard drive just wide of the upright.
But, despite their attempts at a fightback in the second half, the
home side were forced to end the game empty-handed.
Kilmarnock: Meldrum, McLaughlin, Shields, Dindeleux
,
Fowler, Canero, Mahood (Hardie
45
mins), Fulton, Hay (Murray 45 mins), McSwegan (Nish 45 mins), Boyd
Subs Not Used: Dubourdeau, Greer,
Attendance: 6,925
