55 Mins
Kilmarnock claimed victory over Hearts in a controversial Scottish Premier League encounter.
Ian Black was
sent for the
home side after
16 minutes for a
tackle on Dean
Shiels, but
Hearts went on
to dominate the
first half.
However, Killie won a penalty when Marius Zaliukas felled Paul Heffernan and Shiels converted on 55 minutes.
Hearts manager Paulo Sergio was sent to the stand and the home side were unable to force an equaliser.
Kilmarnock's third successive win at Tynecastle keeps them in a strong mid-table position and to within three points of fifth-placed Hearts.
Sergio's side imposed themselves early on and Danny Grainger's free-kick swerved wide of Anssi Jaakkola's left-hand post.
Ryan Stevenson and Black were also off target with a header and long-range shot respectively as the hosts continued to press.
Andy Webster headed over at the back post from a Hearts corner moments before the home side were reduced to 10 men.
Black slid in on
Dean Shiels
(above right)
after the
Kilmarnock
player had
released the
ball and the
challenge was
deemed as a
sending off
offence by
referee Alan
Muir.
In spite of this, it was still the Edinburgh side who continued to threaten and Rudi Skacel juggled with the ball before trying an overhead kick that was off target and then Stevenson flashed a shot across the face of Jaakkola's goal.
Hearts claimed unsuccessfully for a penalty after the ball seemed to trickle down the arm of Alex Pursehouse in the penalty area after the Killie player mis-timed his headed clearance.
Pursehouse was soon replaced with David Silva and Jaakkola made a stunning save near the end of the half to keep the score at 0-0.
Grainger's inswining corner made it all the way to the back post, where Stevenson was lurking and the forward's downward volley was scooped off the line by the keeper.
Killie finally threatened when the ball broke to Silva on the edge of the box, but his shot was deflected out for a corner.
Hearts continued to look the more likely at the start of the second half, with Stevenson setting up Skacel for a shot that was well saved by Jaakkola and the ball was whipped away from Stevenson as he tried to convert the rebound.
And then, from a rare break, the visitors won a penalty.
Heffernan was
released and the
striker was
bundled over by
Zaliukas as he
progressed into
the penalty
area, the
referee
eventually
pointing to the
spot after
weighing up the
decision.
Hearts protested and yellow cards were handed out to Skacel and Zaliukas before Shiels coolly stroked home the spot-kick.
Jamie Hamill sliced a shot over as Hearts tried to find a leveller and the former Kilmarnock player then had a long-range free kick held by Jaakkola.
Sergio was dismissed after an angry exchange with the officials.
Webster and team-mate David Templeton headed wide and Silva had a couple of shots as both sides missed chances in the closing stages.
