After looking down and out, Hearts staged a dramatic late comeback to draw 2-2 with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Chris Stokes had Killie 1-0 up before Craig Gordon got himself in a muddle with the ball at his feet, allowing Kyle Lafferty to slide the ball into an empty net. Stephen Humphrys pulled one back two minutes later to offer some hope before Nathaniel Atkinson slammed home a 94th minute volley with his weaker foot.
They should have taken the lead after just 90 seconds, but Barrie McKay produced a contender for miss of the season. Alan Forrest played in Lawrence Shankland and the Jambos number nine drove into the box before unselfishly squaring for McKay. Robert Snodgrass could have nabbed a first goal, but left the ball for McKay. All he had to do was roll it into the empty net, but somehow managed to scoop the ball over the bar.
Another big chance went begging on 20 minutes. McKay spotted Stephen Humphrys’ run towards the back post and clipped a ball over the top. The on-loan Wigan Athletic man connected with a header but sent the ball straight at Zach Hemmings.
The visitors were almost punished for sloppiness when Snodgrass gave the ball away. Dan Armstrong pulled the back for Blair Alston, but he sent a first-time effort straight into Gordon’s arms.
A similar move down the left after Humphrys lost the ball came even closer to breaking the deadlock. Chris Stokes picked out Alan Power and his strike was goal-bound until a great block from Alex Cochrane diverted it behind.
Snodgrass pulled rank to hit a free-kick after Humphrys was fouled by Ash Taylor. The midfielder hit the target but Hemmings was able to gather.
Gordon was relieved to see Jordan Jones’ swerving effort go wide. The winger cut inside and unleashed towards goal and the Hearts keeper would have been struggling had Jones hit the target.
Killie then wanted a penalty after Cochrane put his hands on Alston after a poor touch. However, referee Matthew MacDermid didn’t see enough in it to award the spot kick, which would have meant a red card for the Hearts defender.
The breakthrough came within two minutes of the restart. Hearts failed to properly defend a corner and Stokes forced the ball over the line after a stramash. Again, Hearts wasted a big chance. Humphrys was in after a one-two with Snodgrass but screwed a left foot shot well wide from close range.
Gordon then gifted Killie a second. The Scotland number one slipped on the wet surface after taking a touch, and Lafferty took full advantage, robbing him of possession and rolling into the empty net.
Hearts responded by scoring themselves two minutes later. Snodgrass picked out Humphrys’ run in behind and he rounded Hemmings before guiding the ball home from a tight angle. Sub Oli Shaw went one-on-one with Gordon. The Hearts keeper stayed in his penalty box and stood up to save well, however.
Hearts finally woke up and should have levelled through Shankland. Atkinson hit the byline and pulled back for the striker, who spun and volleyed across the face of goal. He then fired well over after a good counter saw Humphrys set up the frontman.
Killie decided to try and see the game out but were undone at the death. A free-kick was cleared only as far as Atkinson, who sent an unstoppable left-foot volley flying into the corner to draw the capital club level.
McKay’s miss
No two ways about it, it was a shocker. The wide man made a complete mess of things in front of an open goal inside two minutes, managing to send the ball over the bar. The Hearts man seemed to shrink after that and didn’t have good game, looking bereft of confidence.
Red card let off
Ash Taylor can count himself a lucky man to have stayed on the park at 2-1. Snodgrass’ ball over the top had Shankland in behind. Taylor could only pull him down to prevent him running in on goal. McDermid looked set to pull out the red card before looking across to his assistant, who put his flag up. Replays showed Shankland was on and Taylor dodged a major bullet.
Short at the back
Hearts began the game with Alex Cochrane and Stephen Kingsley in the middle of the back four. Injuries to Kye Rowles and Craig Halkett are proving to be big misses as Neilson patches up his back line on a weekly basis. Another goal conceded from a set piece continues a recent trend and Hearts need their central defenders back in order to restore come confidence and stability.
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