Velicka makes point but Hearts sink even further

HEARTS 1 - KILMARNOCK 1

HEARTS slipped to 11th place in the league but, ironically, did so on a day when their second half spirit gave their support some much-needed cause for optimism. This wasn't a return to the kind of football demanded of a club like Hearts, it wasn't even a win, but it was a step in the right direction.

Hamstrung by their eighth red card of the season, they fought back from going a goal down but, despite applying virtually unrelenting pressure on the Kilmarnock rearguard in the second half, victory still eluded them.

Already missing Marius Zaliukas, Lee Wallace and Michael Stewart after the trio were dismissed during the midweek defeat to Dundee United, they were further hindered when Calum Elliot picked up two yellow cards within the space of six minutes to give Kilmarnock the numerical advantage in terms of personnel.

In the 30th minute the striker had found his way into referee John Underhill's book with a tackle on Danny Invincibile, which seemed to stem from frustration after he appeared to be fouled seconds earlier, but when he followed that up with an ill-advised lunge on Tim Clancy minute later, he left the official little option. Not that the majority of the fans agreed and while it left Hearts a man short, it did seem to have a galvanising effect.

United by a sense of injustice at the recent spate of sending offs, the supporters rallied behind their charges and rather than boo their own men, they directed their fury at the match officials.

By half-time, the visitors had converted that extra-man advantage into a one-goal lead. Jamie Hamill was the Kilmarnock player providing the superb stinging delivery, a zipped in cross from deep on the right, and it was Paul Di Giacomo, back in the fold after his loan spell at Partick Thistle, who managed to steer it into the home goal. Stealing in at the back post ahead of Robbie Neilson, he volleyed high into the roof of the net.

The match had started with Hearts trying to push ahead and neat interplay involving the likes of Deividas Cesnauskas and Robbie Neilson down the right flank was causing young Tim Clancy headaches, while Ruben Palazuelos and Audrius Ksanavicius ensured that Martyn Corrigan did not have an easy start to his Kilmarnock debut. But by the time the sending off came the visitors were just edging things, their attacking formation, with three men pushed up front, causing Hearts some trouble on the break but, perhaps with Frail's warning that he would drop players who did not show the required resolve ringing in his men's ears, the home ranks refused to fold. Rather than hiding, the Hearts players were out a full five minutes ahead of Kilmarnock for the start of the second half.

The second half saw a more upbeat performance from Hearts who seemed to grow in stature with every break forward. Kilmarnock, embroiled in a pretty tough run of their own, were partly culpable, sitting deeper and deeper, timidly trying to protect their lead, rather than trying to apply more pressure. And it meant that despite their one-man advantage the Rugby Park side were the ones having to pull off some last ditch tackles and blocks to keep the swarming home side at bay.

The first half had in fact merely been an appetiser for the main show, which was energetic and passionate. And that was just the technical areas. The tension of the afternoon obviously getting to both camps, Frail and Kilmarnock assistant manager Billy Brown had to be kept apart by the fourth official and when eventually he lost patience, Underhill was required to halt the game and provide a ticking off.

As if things couldn't get any more bizarre at Tynecastle, the verbal tit-for-tat gave Saulius Mikoliunas the opportunity to nip down the tunnel for the toilet break. But it was Mikoliunas' contribution on the pitch, along with that of his countrymen Deividas Cesnauskas and Andrius Velicka which turned the game. Cesnauskas was making his first start for Hearts since November 4, following a couple of lengthy injury lay-offs and his presence has been keenly felt. Getting wide and one of the few in the squad with the confidence still to get at the opposition, he was an ebullient addition to the starting line up, while Velicka was, once more, the man who grabbed the all-important goal.

It came in the 62nd minute. When Cesnauskas played the ball into the box from the corner, Christophe Berra headed down at the back post and the striker got in first to seize the equaliser and take his tally for the season into double figures.

He could have and would have had at least one more were it not for the never say die defending of the now under-fire Kilmarnock defence. Alan Johnston, on for Gary Locke in the 64th minute was on hand to block one effort inside the box and Simon Ford had to make two well-timed tackles in the area to deny other goalscoring chances.

Having been such an integral part of the match in the opening 45 minutes, Kilmarnock couldn't match Hearts once they got the bit between their teeth and time and time again they were too profligate with their passing, inviting the home side to come back at them. Ruben Palazuelos was the next to threaten from a Velicka cutback.

The latter was replaced by Christian Nade in the final flurry, with Michal Pospisil also sent on as Hearts sensed the possibility of their first victory since November 11. But in a game that was worthy of more plaudits than either side have merited of late, Kilarmnock were not to be completely robbed of all they had worked for. They tried to steal the winner in the final few minutes but Hamill and Invincibile should have done better. Poor decision-making and insipid finishing was their downfall leaving the sides to share the points.

It was an outcome that felt more like a defeat for the travelling contingent but on a day when Hearts rediscovered a battling attitude it was a draw which felt more like a victory to them.