Kilmarnock stretched their unbeaten run to eight games and dented Hearts'
prospects of winning this year's Premier League.
Colin Meldrum, in goal for Dragoji Lekovic, who shocked Killie when he left
for Sporting Gijon in midweek, had the worst possible start.
With only six minutes gone he was beaten with a shot from outside the box.
Steve Fulton's free kick was only partially cleared by the home defence and
Neil McCann's shot from 20 yards hit the post and entered the net off Meldrum's
shoulder.
The home side were quick to respond and Ally Mitchell was unlucky when his
header from Gary Holt's cross deflected off David Weir for a corner.
As the first half progressed the Rugby Park side gained in confidence and it
took a good save from Giles Rousset on 24 minutes to deny Mark Roberts, who
fired in a powerful shot from the edge of the box.
In the 29th minute Rousset again came to his side's rescue when he beat away a
Paul Wright shot, and when Gus MacPherson followed up Thomas Flogel cleared his
shot off the line.
As the visitors' defence found itself under increasing pressure, Wright was
unlucky when his shot came back off the post on 32 minutes.
But the striker had better luck in the 40th minute when he blasted the ball
high into the net after a slip by Weir.
Having worked so hard to get back into the game, Kilmarnock were dealt a late
blow in the dying seconds of the first half.
The ball glanced off the head of unfortunate MacPherson and into his own net
from McCann's corner.
In the second half Kilmarnock piled men forward as they went in search of the
goal that would get them back in the game.
Holt came close on 74 minutes when he beat Rousset to the ball but was
unfortunate when his shot hit the post.
Justice was done, however, when Killie levelled again on 76 minutes, Mark
Riley volleying home from the edge of the box - his second goal in successive
games.
Six minutes from time Weir almost scored through his own goal when he miscued
trying to clear a Pat Nevin cross, but the ball flew inches over the bar.
Hearts can consider themselves a bit fortunate to have taken a point from this
match.
Teams
Kilmarnock: Meldrum, MacPherson, Kerr, Lauchlan, McGowne, Reilly,
Mitchell (Henry 73), Holt, Wright, Roberts (Vareille 75), Nevin.
Subs Not Used: Baker.
Booked: Reilly, Holt.
Goals: Wright 40, Reilly 76.
Hearts: Rousset, McPherson, Naysmith, Weir, Flogel, Ritchie,
McCann, Fulton, Adam (Quitongo 81), Cameron (Frail 75),
Hamilton (Robertson 75).
Booked: Flogel, Hamilton.
Goals: McCann 6, MacPherson 45 og.
Att: 11,079
Ref: D Smith (Troon).
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