MX23RW : Friday, March 29 10:34:04| >> :120:13572:13572:
[monks data]
Attendance: 16,211
Hearts logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 25
Feb 5, 2020 at 7.45pm UK
 
Kilmarnock logo

2-3

Clare (79' pen.), Halkett (89')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Findlay (24'), Burke (38'), Brophy (50')
Branescu (80')

Kilmarnock edge Hearts in five-goal thriller

Kilmarnock edge Hearts in five-goal thriller
© Reuters
The Jambos return to the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Hearts' home hoodoo against Kilmarnock continued as Daniel Stendel's men succumbed to a breathless 3-2 defeat at Tynecastle.

Goals from Stuart Findlay, Chris Burke and Eamonn Brophy secured a fourth successive victory in Gorgie for the Ayrshire outfit, while their overall unbeaten run in Edinburgh's west end stretches back to December 2016.

Killie ended the game with 10 men following the foolish dismissal of goalkeeper Laurentiu Branescu and endured a nervous finish following goals from Sean Clare and Craig Halkett.

But they held firm to claim a second win on the bounce under Alex Dyer and ensure Hearts returned to the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Stendel handed a first start to January signing Marcel Langer, while Steven Naismith led the line 15 years to the day since scoring his first ever senior goal – at Tynecastle – for Kilmarnock.

Hearts were on the attack from the outset, with Euan Henderson stinging the palms of Branescu and a Lewis Moore delivery clipping the crossbar following a deflection off Nico Hamalainen.

Branescu was excelling in the opening exchanges and made a fine low stop to deny Halkett after the centre-half rose highest to meet a deep Moore delivery.

However, it was the visitors who claimed the lead midway through the first half. A flat Rory McKenzie corner was inadvertently flicked into the danger zone by Naismith and Findlay rose highest to power a header beyond Joel Pereira.

Things went from bad to worse as half-time approached when Alan Power took advantage of Hearts' risky high line to send Burke scampering through on goal. The winger's finish was sublime, belying a tight angle to chip the onrushing Pereira and double Killie's lead.

Hearts were afforded a way back into the game when Conor Washington raced onto a flick-on by fellow substitute Uche Ikpeazu, only to be flattened by Branescu. Referee David Munro pointed to the spot and Clare slotted home the resulting penalty.

In a moment of madness, Branescu then hurled the ball away as Clare sought to collect it from the net, which was deemed time-wasting by Munro, and the Romanian received his second booking in 60 seconds.

Substitute goalkeeper Jan Koprivec replaced McKenzie and Hearts had a lifeline.

A miraculous comeback seemed on when Halkett found space in the box to meet a Jamie Walker delivery and rattle a superb low finish beyond Koprivec for his seventh goal of the campaign.

But resolute Killie held firm to claim all three points from a thrilling affair.

ID:388869: cacheID:388869:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5235:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Scotland assistant manager Alex Dyer pictured in September 2019
Read Next:
Alex Dyer hails "excellent" Nicke Kabamba
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic30225371234871
2RangersRangers29231564164870
3Hearts3017493930955
4Kilmarnock30111183933644
5St Mirren30126123637-142
6Hibernian30911104145-438
7Dundee2999114050-1036
8Motherwell30711124147-632
9Aberdeen3079143348-1530
10St Johnstone30610142141-2028
11Ross County3069152851-2327
12Livingston3038192052-3217


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!