Simon Ford, paired with Greer at the heart of the home defence due to David Lilley's hamstring injury, was the first Killie played to see yellow in the 2005/06 season after a crude sixth-minute challenge on Jankauskas.

The rest of the home side's line-up was very much as it was during last season with Fraser Wright - a defender acquired from Stranraer - failing even to make it onto the bench.

Hearts' Mikoliunas followed Ford into Alan Freeland's book when the Lithuanian was cautioned for a similarly clumsy tackle on Gary Locke.

Out of the blue Killie stunned Hearts' vociferous travelling support - forming nearly half of the 7,500 crowd - when Naismith found himself unmarked in the six-yard box and hooked Peter Leven's long throw-in past Craig Gordon in the 12th minute.

But the men from Edinburgh sensationally hit back within a minute when Jankauskas crossed from the left, Bednar forced a tremendous save from Alan Combe but the ball fell to Skacel, who slammed the equaliser into the roof of the net.

Skacel, on loan from Marseille, was the next into the under-pressure Freeland's book when he cynically pulled back Gary McDonald in the 26th minute.

There was barely a dull moment in a high-octane start to the season and, after a rampaging run from right-back James Fowler, Kris Boyd was flagged offside when clean through in what was an exceptionally tight decision.

It was no surprise when the players failed to maintain that lively early momentum and the remainder of the first 45 was notable only for a succession of fiery challenges, two of which - by Naismith and Boyd - resulted in the fourth and fifth yellow cards of the half.

The visitors made the perfect start to the second period when they took the lead after just 51 seconds.

From Skacel's deep left-wing cross, Jankauskas headed the ball back into Bednar's path and the 22-year-old nodded the ball past Combe via the inside of the post.

Jefferies reacted to going behind by replacing midfielder Danny Invincibile with striker Colin Nish on 52, the Australian clearly not happy about his removal.

Bednar should have claimed his second goal in Scottish football on 57 when he was picked out by a superb Skacel free-kick but failed to trouble Combe as much as he should have.

Mikoliunas put Burley's men further ahead in the 61st minute. He was teed up by Bednar and Paul Hartley 20 yards out and the skilful midfielder curled a beautiful left-footed shot into Combe's top right-hand corner.

Jefferies introduced former Hearts winger Allan Johnston to the fray in the 64th minute in place of Leven as the former Tynecastle boss sought a way back into the game.

Former Ipswich and Derby manager Burley made his first change when he replaced the highly-impressive Bednar with Calum Elliot on the 70th-minute mark.

Just when it seemed Hearts would cruise the rest of the game, Greer stepped forward to head firmly past Gordon in the 74th minute to give the home side hope of a recovery.

Despite that boost it was Hearts who looked the more likely to get another goal and Combe had to be smart to deny Mikoliunas and then Skacel in the 85th minute.

They were given the perfect chance to wrap up the win on 88 from the penalty spot after Locke brought down Jankauskas and Hartley made no mistake from 12 yards out to seal the win.

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