Kilmarnock got here from behind to earn a 2-1 victory at Tynecastle as Hearts slipped to the underside of the William Hill Scottish Premiership.
The hosts went in on the break in entrance courtesy of Alan Forrest’s strike however Derek McInnes’ aspect scored two quickfire targets by means of Matty Kennedy and Kyle Vassell.
The end result noticed the mini-revival beneath new Hearts head coach Neil Critchley undergo a setback within the Englishman’s fourth sport in cost they usually slipped under rivals Hibernian to the foot of the desk.
It was a productive evening’s work for Kilmarnock, nonetheless, as they climbed into the highest six.
The hosts began brightly as they appeared to proceed their encouraging run of shows beneath Critchley.
Kenneth Vargas had a tame shot saved by Robby McCrorie inside two minutes earlier than turning supplier for Blair Spittal.
The midfielder’s low drive from the sting of the field was pushed across the put up by the outstretched Killie goalkeeper.
Kilmarnock brought on panic within the Hearts field within the 18th minute when Vassell received to the ball forward of Craig Gordon from Danny Armstrong’s move, however Kye Rowles coated and conceded a nook because the ball bounced in direction of purpose.
Cammy Devlin then noticed a deflected effort bounce simply huge earlier than Killie responded on the different finish.
Armstrong had a shot from Kennedy’s nook saved by Gordon earlier than Joe Wright headed over from one other Kennedy supply.
Nevertheless it was Hearts who went into the break in entrance after Forrest completed off a flowing transfer within the forty fourth minute.
Lawrence Shankland’s fast throw set Vargas free down the precise and the ahead picked out Spittal on the sting of the field.
Spittal performed a deft move into Forrest’s path and the winger fired a drive excessive into the online from shut vary.
Hearts stored coming firstly of the second half and, after Malachi Boateng had a shot blocked from six yards, Shankland fired simply over.
Kilmarnock then seized management with two targets in 5 minutes.
Kennedy levelled with a managed half volley inside the realm after the ball broke to him from Vassell outmuscling Frankie Kent.
And the Hearts defending was questionable once more because the guests stormed forward within the 63rd minute.
David Watson’s lengthy throw into the realm was not handled and Wright’s back-heel was picked up by Vassell along with his again to purpose simply yards out.
Regardless of having Rowles for firm the striker managed to swivel and smash the ball dwelling.
Hearts threw on James Wilson, who scored the late equaliser in Sunday’s Edinburgh derby draw with Hibs, however Killie comfortably held on for the win.
Critchley annoyed by collapse
Hearts supervisor Neil Critchley:
“It’s very disappointing, we started the game really well and pushed Kilmarnock right back. We dominated the game, scored a really good goal to go 1-0 up.
“I felt we deserved that however then two actually, actually poor moments of defending price us the sport. It was an enormous studying curve for me tonight.
“The last half-hour of the game, after we went 2-1 down, we have to show more courage. But we lost our discipline on the ball and it became a little bit off-the-cuff style football.
“We did not do sufficient, Killie sat behind the ball however that is once you want high quality and we have been missing. Now we have to go to St Johnstone and present character as a gaggle now.”
McInnes: We wasted first half-hour
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes:
“I assumed we wasted the primary half hour. The messaging from us was to attempt to come right here and be a wee bit extra forthright and impose ourselves within the sport.
“I thought we were too passive, I thought Hearts were arriving at the edge of our box too often, too many corners, free-kicks going into our box and I thought we were playing with fire.
“On the break we tried to get the message throughout about what we wished to attempt to do and I assumed we have been much better.”
