Andrius Velicka averted a seventh consecutive defeat for 10-man Hearts but the hosts still slipped into the bottom two of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Calum Elliot became the fourth Hearts player to be sent off this week after two bookings in seven minutes and Paul Di Giacomo marked his first Kilmarnock appearance of the season with a 45th-minute opener.

However, Hearts came out fired up for the second half and Velicka bundled home a deserved equaliser.

With each side forced into several changes and both struggling for form - Kilmarnock have only won once since beating Hearts in October - the game started quietly before developing into a bad-tempered and exciting encounter.

Hearts were missing the injured Andrew Driver and suspended trio Marius Zaliukas, Michael Stewart and Lee Wallace, all sent off in Wednesday's 4-1 defeat by Dundee United.

Hearts had failed in an appeal on the red card for Zaliukas and caretaker boss Stephen Frail brought in five men, including fit-again Christos Karipidis and Deividas Cesnauskis, who made his first Hearts start since November 2006.

Martyn Corrigan made his Kilmarnock debut after taking part in a minute's applause for Phil O'Donnell, his Motherwell team-mate until the 35-year-old's sudden death last Saturday.

Killie made four changes with Frazer Wright suspended and Mehdi Taouil and Gary Wales injured with Di Giacomo recalled after spending the first half of the season on loan at Partick.

Kilmarnock carved out the first chance in the 14th minute when Colin Nish ran on to Danny Invincibile's cutback but volleyed well over.

They looked comfortable in the opening half hour apart from when Cesnauskis' whipped corner fell to Eggert Jonsson but he forced it wide under pressure.

The game bust to life when Elliot was booked for a scything challenge on the lively Invincibile in the 29th minute.

Hearts took control and Ruben Palazuelos met Robbie Neilson's deep cross but the Spaniard was too far out to trouble Alan Combe.

Combe had to be at his best when Audrius Ksanavicius broke clear to fire a powerful strike that the Killie goalkeeper palmed over, and he pulled off an excellent double save from Cesnauskis and Neilson.

But Elliot saw red after the resulting corner when he dived in and caught Clancy after he had cleared. Locke was fortunate to escape punishment from referee John Underhill after pushing the Scotland Under-21 player.

Hamill's powerful effort from a tight angle forced Steve Banks to palm clear but the Hearts goalkeeper was beaten just as the fourth official was signalling for injury time.

Di Giacomo got in front of the Hearts defence to volley home Hamill's cross to the edge of the six-yard box.

Hearts started the second half strongly and Cesnauskis threaded through for Velicka - but Simon Ford's sliding challenge diverted the striker's finish just wide.

Banks and Invincibile then squared up as the Hearts keeper accused the Killie forward of going down too easily.

Hearts levelled in the 63rd minute when Velicka bundled home on the line after Berra had headed a Cesnauskis corner back across goal.

Velicka was inches from his second moments later when he collected an infield pass from impressive sub Saulius Mikoliunas, swivelled on the edge of the box and fired just wide.

The hostile atmosphere extended to the technical area and Underhill warned Killie assistant Billy Brown to calm down after a prolonged argument with Frail.

Velicka and Nish were inches away from connecting with tempting crosses and sub Allan Johnston took the ball off the feet of Cesnauskis as he prepared to shoot.

Hearts continued to press and Combe acrobatically tipped over both an 18-yard volley from Palazuelos and a looping header from sub Christian Nade.

Killie had two late chances to steal victory, the first when sub Willie Gibson ran clear on the left.

However, Invincibile opted to go himself and the threat dissipated, with Gibson shooting well over from 25 yards after the ball had broken off a Hearts defender.

And the Australian shot wide in injury-time after being forced wide by Jose Goncalves.

Teams

Hearts Banks, Neilson, Karipidis, Berra, Goncalves, Cesnauskis (Pospisil 87), Palazuelos, Jonsson, Ksanavicius (Mikoliunas 53), Elliot, Velicka (Nade 83).

Subs Not Used: Basso, McGowan, Beniusis, Brown.

Sent Off: Elliot (36).

Booked: Elliot.

Goals: Velicka 63.

Kilmarnock Combe, Corrigan, Ford, Clancy, Hay, Invincibile, Locke (Johnston 65), Fowler, Hamill, Nish,Digiacomo (Gibson 82).

Subs Not Used: Harpur, Morgan, Fernandez, Flannigan,

Kyle Wright.

Booked: Nish.

Goals: Digiacomo 45.

Att: 14,346

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).