League contenders Hearts drop points at home

Hearts 1 – 1 Kilmarnock FC

1^st Half

Hearts dominate the first half but fail to create any clear-cut chances, with only one shot on target. The visitors, Kilmarnock FC, have managed two shots on target despite defending resolutely when poor with the ball. Kilmarnock centre back Robbie Deas received a yellow card in the opening few minutes, in the third minute, as Hearts pressed down Killie’s half. Hearts player Kabore was the most significant threat and challenge for Kilmarnock’s back five – both Kabore and Cammy Devlin combined to pile on the pressure to the Ayrshire side. Devlin played a pass to Kabore down the left wing of Kilmarnock’s half, but was narrowly cut out by Killie. Killie did look more dangerous on the counterattack. Greg Kiltie capitalised on Hearts’ shaky and sleeping backline with a decent shot but was saved at full stretch by Alexander Schwolow. Both teams lack quality, and the scoreline remains goalless at 0-0 at the end of the first half.

2^nd Half

The second half then begins with Killie trying to get back into the game, with Lowery attempting to get into Hearts’ own half, and then finds Killie. However, the ball is quickly won back by a strong Hearts defence. Hearts then have another opportunity with a cross which falls to Ayrshire-born striker and former Ayr frontman Lawrence Shankland, who misses the target completely. Later, in the 49th minute, Shankland scored after a misplaced pass found its way to him in the box – scoring with a clever chip finish.

Kilmarnock centre back Robbie Deas puts in a vital block before, keeping the scoreline at 1-0. Further into the second half, Hearts have another chance from a corner in the 58^th minute, with Tomas Magnsson hitting the left post before James Brown, Killie’s right back, clears. James Brown then later takes down Kyzidiris in a strong, sweeping tackle before a free kick is awarded to Hearts. In the 61^st minute, Kettlewell looks to change personnel and get Killie back into the game and brings David Watson on to replace Jack Thomson. The former Motherwell boss tries to make an impact with Watson, who has already scored three goals this season. Kilmarnock have started to look livelier since Watson came on and have begun to find their way into the Hearts half again. With things looking more positive for the Ayrshire side, Kilmarnock make a triple substitution – Tiffoney, Dackers, and Anderson all come on in a more attacking approach. But one wonders if this will leave Killie more exposed at the back. In the 76^th minute, David Watson hits a long-range shot but misses the target before Hearts get another chance thanks to a mistimed pass by Brad Lyons. Killie then began testing Hearts’ hearts even more as Liam Polworth hit a long-range shot in the 91st minute. The Hearts keeper, Schwolow, then spilt the ball, which fell to Bruce Anderson, who scored the rebound. The match finishes 1-1, giving Killie a vital point.