Elliot kills off his striking woes

Hearts 3
(Elliot 22, 29; Aguiar 49)

Kilmarnock 1
(Invincibile 8)

CALUM Elliot has taken his share of stick from the Hearts support, but it's nothing a goal or two can't sort out. Not only did he score his first for the club in over a year yesterday, he added a second shortly after, and should have helped himself to more in a performance that persuaded his many critics in the Tynecastle stands to think again.

His two strikes in the opening half hour overturned Kilmarnock's early breakthrough, and paved the way for Bruno Aguiar's decisive third, early in the second half. Then, when Hearts were awarded a penalty on the hour mark, came the real surprise. "We want Calum," chanted the home support, as though he had been their hero for years.

As it was, Aguiar took, and missed, the spot-kick, squandering Hearts' chance of a fourth, and Elliot's chance of a hat-trick. "We are not in the Christmas market," said their manager, Csaba Laszlo, by way of explanation. "My gift to Calum was not to give him the penalty. It was more important to let him enjoy some applause with five minutes left."

The 22-year-old striker was given a standing ovation when he made way for Christian Nade. Laszlo liked that, for he knows that Elliot, neither the quickest nor the most prolific forward on the club's books, isn't exactly the fans' favourite. "If they are on your side, it gives you a massive boost," said the player. "Hopefully, between now and the end of the season, I can build up that relationship."

While Hearts have been effective under Laszlo, they are crying out for a goalscorer. Elliot has netted 11 in a loan spell with Livingston this season. At Ibrox last month, his substitute appearance was credited with earning Hearts a draw. Yesterday, he replaced Nade as the team's lone forward, and was instrumental in a comfortable triumph. Third-placed Hearts are now seven points clear of Aberdeen, their nearest challengers in the SPL.

How Kilmarnock could do with some of Elliot's sharpness. They have scored only eight league goals this year, haven't won three points since December, and have now played two more games than bottom-placed Falkirk, who are just three points behind. Their manager, Jim Jefferies, insists that there have been good performances in among the bad results. Yesterday's was not one of them. And yet, they could scarcely have asked for a better start. When Mehdi Taouil's deep cross hung in the air, Danny Invincibile dashed in at the back post to crash his header high into the net. "To go in front was a bit of bonus," said Jefferies almost sheepishly. His team required only half an hour to demonstrate that they didn't deserve it.

Kilmarnock were second to everything, unable to pick up Aguiar in the hole between defence and midfield, and petrified by the repeated appearance of Elliot in scoring positions. Some 23 minutes had gone when he grabbed his first. When Aguiar delivered a devilish free-kick, goalkeeper Alan Combe parried a flick by Marius Zaliukas, and Elliot bundled the ball in.

His second came six minutes later. This time he was nipping in at the front post to turn in a low cross by Lee Wallace. That he began and ended the move that almost earned him a third just before half-time was a clear indication of his newfound confidence. On the halfway line, with his back to goal, he fed the onrushing Andy Driver, before turning and heading for the penalty area. His run into space was timed to perfection, but when he collected the return from Driver, his weak shot dribbled wide.

All of which vindicated Laszlo's decision to stick with his tried and trusted formation, despite finding himself with the resources to play two up front. Three supporting midfielders – Driver on the left, Aguiar in the middle and David Obua on the right – proved to be more than enough trouble for Kilmarnock. The Ayrshire side briefly rallied before the interval, mainly with the help of Kevin Kyle's head, but any hope they had of a recovery was snuffed out within four minutes of the restart. When Aguiar picked out Elliot on the edge of the six-yard area, the striker withstood Manuel Pascali's challenge, and did just enough to lay off a loose ball. With Kilmarnock's defence slow to respond, Aguiar seized upon the opportunity, ramming it high into the net from unmissable range.

Thereafter, even the heads of Jefferies and his assistant, Billy Brown, seemed to go down, which is a measure of Kilmarnock's plight. Wallace, surely a Scotland full-back of the not-too-distant future, fairly stretched them down the left, several times threatening to bring about a fourth goal. His inviting cross was headed over by Ruben Palazuelos, and his spinning shot also was too high. An hour had been played when referee David Somers awarded Hearts a penalty. When substitute Ryan O'Leary appeared to bring down Elliot in the box, Aguiar grabbed the ball and headed for the spot. His low effort cannoned off the base of the left-hand post. O'Leary had the chance to make amends with 12 minutes left, but his header at the back post drifted away from the target. In the SPL, his team are doing much the same.