Kilmarnock 1-0 Hearts: Jam Tarts’ title grip slips at Rugby Park
· Yahoo Sports
The Scottish Premierhsip leaders, Heart Of Midlothian, suffered only their fifth defeat of the season on Saturday night, as Kilmarnock defeated them 1-0 at Rugby Park with Estonian defender Michael Schjønning-Larsen netted the winner inside the opening half an hour.
As It Happened
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Hearts flew out the traps with Cláudio Braga forcing Kelle Roos into his first save, of many, within the first minute of the game with his header looking destined for the bottom corner. The visitors continued to push for an opener, but the Killie defence held strong with multiple shots being blocked.
Then came the fruits of their labour when Schjønning-Larsen stabbed the ball home from inside the six-yard box, converting a lovely cross from Greg Kiltie. The hosts almost added a seconsd just minutes later when Joe Hugill saw his effort blocked in the centre of the box. Roos was soon to be called into action yet again to deny Braga, this time from a left-footed strike.
Hearts were forced into a substitution in the 35th minute, when Tómas Magnússon was forced off through injury and replaced by Oisin McEntee. Hugill once again looked to double his side’s advantage shortly before the break, but Jam Tarts keeper Alexander Schwolow was on hand to keep it out. The German was called into action again on the stroke of half-time to deny Rangers loanee Findlay Curtis.
The visitors made their second change at the break, which saw Islam Cheskonov replace Pierre Landry Kabore. Early on in the second period, Roos made yet another save this time getting down fast to his right to prevent Blair Spitall from levelling the score. Hearts’ third substituition of the afternoon came just before the hour mark, with Jordi Altena introduced to proceedings and Michael Steinwender withdrawn.
Killie waited until the 65th minute to make their first change, which saw Tom Lowery replace young midfielder David Watson. Two more followed shortly after, with goalscorer Schjønning-Larsen’s and kiltie’s nights coming to an end in favour of Dominic Thompson and Rory McKenzie.
Robbie Deas was the first name in the referee’s notebook after he saw yellow for a challenge on McEntee with 15 minutes of the 90 remaining. Moments later, Hearts defender Craig Halkett joined him in the book for a foul on Curtis inside his own half. The league leaders continued to push for an equaliser with Braga seeing his header fly wide of the post before Hearts’ fourth change of the match saw Sabah Kerjota replace Harry Milne.
Former Bristol City forward Marley Watkins was then introduced for Kilmarnock as Hugill’s night came to a close, Curtis was also withdran and replaced by Jack Thomson. The visitors’ final changes of the game saw Alexandros Kyziridis replaced by Frankie Kent and Spittal make way for Elton Kabangu.
As the game drew to a close, Kilmarnock made their final substitution which saw Aaron Tshibola replaced by Lewis Mayo. Liam Polworth picked up the third yellow card of the match in the 91st minute, after bringing down Marc Leonard inside the Kilmarnock half. Hearts continued to huff and puff but couldn’t blow the house down, and instead fell to defeat of the season as their lead at the top of the table was cut by both sides of Glasgow.