HEARTS snatched a late equaliser in style at a sodden Rugby Park, but were left to rue a pair of howlers destined to make the end-of-season blooper reel.
A makeshift defence conceded a host of chances to Kilmarnock, but were it not for an astonishing open goal miss by Barrie McKay and a slapstick error by Craig Gordon the capital club could well have left Ayrshire with more than a point.
Goals by Chris Stokes and Kyle Lafferty looked to have enough for the three points, despite Stephen Humphrys notching his first goal in maroon, before Nathaniel Atkinson volleyed home a stunning last-gasp equaliser that left the home players slumped disbelieving on the turf.
“The pleasing thing for us is that we fought back, we continued to do what we wanted to do, which is to pass it and get forward and I think we deserved a point at least today,” boss Robbie Neilson said after the match.
“It’s always difficult when you come down here, the surface makes it awkward to play on at times, I think the rain actually helped us because when you come here and it’s dry and sticky it’s even harder to play any football on.
“He (Gordon) is on that surface and the ball comes back and he slides. You saw a lot of boys sliding like that and it’s just come at a key moment.”
The visitors started with no recognised centre-backs in their XI, as Neilson was forced to field Stephen Kingsley and Alex Cochrane at the heart of an injury-ravaged defence.
It should have been 1-0 to the visitors within the first three minutes, Lawrence Shankland beating the Killie offside trap. He squared for McKay at the back post but, with the goal gaping, the midfielder somehow contrived to spoon over. If that isn’t miss of the season something’s gone badly wrong, though Kilmarnock missed a presentable chance of their own a few minutes later when Daniel Armstrong nodded wide on a fine Jordan Jones cross.
Following half-chances at either end Blair Alston spurned a golden opportunity to put the hosts ahead. The midfielder sealed promotion with a guided finish against Arbroath last season but presented with a similar opportunity by Armstrong he could only stroke into the waiting arms of Gordon.
A Robert Snodgrass free-kick straight at Hemming was about all Hearts could muster as the first half drew to a close, with Jones inches away from giving McInnes’ men the lead with a curling effort.
Killie had a claim for a penalty when Alston appeared to be hauled back by Cochrane in the box following a nice team move, but Matthew MacDermid waved play on to howls of protest from the Rugby Park stands.
The breakthrough did eventually come just minutes into the second half, though it wasn’t a work of art. A scramble on a corner saw Power shoot goalward and the ball cannon off a Hearts man before Stokes bundled home.
If the first Killie goal had been scrappy, the second was pure comedy. A pass back to Gordon by Cochrane looked in danger of letting Lafferty in but the ball probably would have found the goalkeeper. However, the Scotland number one slipped on the slick surface as he tried to adjust and left Lafferty with the simple task of poking into an empty net.
Given the way the game had gone up to that point it felt like the three points should be in the bag, but the hosts switched off badly only moments later, allowing Humphrys clean through to round Hemming and get Hearts back into it.
Sub Oli Shaw could have made it 3-1 just minutes after coming on but his finish was straight at Gordon, and that profligacy would be punished.
With Killie defending deep on a free-kick Shaw had foolishly conceded, a ball was headed out to the edge of the area and Atkinson caught it sweetly on the volley to break home hearts.
A gutted McInnes said: “It’s the first goal I’m more annoyed about, the second can happen - it’s an unbelievable strike.
“I thought we did enough to win the game. It was a proper cup tie, we had chances, Hearts had chances.
“We knew they were a bit vulnerable defensively but had great attacking threat, it’s that risk and reward and the risk almost paid off for us.”
