Paul Heffernan netted a hat-trick as Kilmarnock claimed their third straight win against Hearts this season.

Hearts had defender Darren Barr carried off following a clash of heads with team-mate Danny Wilson.

And Killie moved ahead before the break with Heffernan tapping home James Dayton's pass.

Heffernan converted William Gros' knock-down at a corner and got his third with a rebound shot after Borja Perez's effort had been saved.

The Ayrshire side move up to fifth in the Scottish Premier League, a point off Hibernian, while Hearts remain tenth.

Hearts, who have not beaten Kilmarnock since April 2010, were without the suspended Ryan Stevenson and captain Marius Zaliukas who will miss the rest of the season with an ankle ligament injury.

Barr came into the home defence, with Scott Robinson slotting into midfield.

Kilmarnock manager Kenny Sheils had goalkeeper Cammy Bell fit again, with James Fowler and Borja Perez also back in the starting XI.

And the visitors were offered a potential opening in the first minute.

Barr was short with a pass-back but Perez failed to control the ball and the chance was gone.

Further chances were few and far between, with both teams playing 4-5-1 formations and cancelling each other.

On 31 minutes Hearts were forced into a change when Wilson and Barr clashed heads.

Wilson was able to carry on after receiving stitches in a wound above his left eye but Barr was not as fortunate and, after a delay of six minutes, he was taken away on a stretcher.

Kilmarnock carved out the opener after 42 minutes.

William Gros crossed from the right and Dayton controlled the ball before firing back across goal for Heffernan to knock home his eighth goal of the season.

Hearts made a change at the break with John Sutton replacing Jason Holt and moving to a 4-4-2 formation.

And it almost had an immediate impact on the game as Bell saved well from Robinson and then punching away an effort from Jamie Walker.

With Hearts pushing more men forward, Kilmarnock found space on the break and Dayton forced Jamie MacDonald into a fine stop low to his left.

Killie doubled their lead after 65 minutes when Mo Sissoko knocked a header down to Heffernan on the edge of the six yard box and the striker was able to turn and fire the ball high into the roof of the net.

The Irishman completed his hat-trick with 19 minutes left.

Ross Barbour had a shot well saved by MacDonald but Heffernan was first to the rebound.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Heart of Midlothian

  • 01 MacDonald
  • 04 Wilson
  • 05 Barr (McGowan - 37' )
  • 06 Webster
  • 14 Walker
  • 30 Mullen
  • 15 Holt (Sutton - 46' )
  • 27 Tapping
  • 08 Robinson
  • 21 Ngoo Booked
  • 32 B King (Novikovas - 68' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Ridgers
  • 10 Taouil
  • 11 Driver
  • 16 Prychynenko
  • 19 McGowan
  • 09 Sutton
  • 18 Novikovas

Kilmarnock

  • 01 Bell
  • 02 Tesselaar
  • 04 Fowler
  • 25 Barbour
  • 88 Sissoko
  • 08 Clingan (McKenzie - 82' )
  • 10 Dayton (Racchi - 66' )
  • 29 Pascali Booked (O'Leary - 74' )
  • 09 Gross
  • 14 Heffernan
  • 15 Perez

Substitutes

  • 17 Letheren
  • 03 Hay
  • 05 O'Leary
  • 38 O'Hara
  • 07 Racchi
  • 19 Ibrahim
  • 24 McKenzie
Ref: Craig Thomson
Att: 14,280

Match Stats

Shots

11 6

On target

7 5

Corners

12 3

Fouls

11 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +1:52 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +1:13

Danny Wilson takes a shot. Save made by Cameron Bell.

90:00 +0:57

Short corner taken by Arvydas Novikovas.

90:00 +0:17

Unfair challenge on William Gros by Fraser Mullen results in a free kick. Cameron Bell restarts play with the free kick.

88:46

Direct free kick taken by Cameron Bell.

88:46 Booking

Booking Michael Ngoo is cautioned.

88:38

Michael Ngoo concedes a free kick for a foul on Mohamadou Sissoko.

84:53

William Gros gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamie Walker. Jamie MacDonald takes the direct free kick.

84:22

Danny Racchi fouled by Dylan McGowan, the ref awards a free kick. Cameron Bell takes the direct free kick.

83:47

Short corner taken by Arvydas Novikovas.

83:18

Michael Ngoo fouled by Ryan O'Leary, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Scott Robinson.

82:34

John Sutton is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Cameron Bell restarts play with the free kick.

81:57 Substitution

Substitution Sammy Clingan leaves the field to be replaced by Rory McKenzie.

80:43

The ball is swung over by Arvydas Novikovas, clearance by Mohamadou Sissoko.

80:25

Arvydas Novikovas decides to take a short corner.

78:24

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Fraser Mullen from the right by-line.

77:26

The assistant referee flags for offside against John Sutton. Cameron Bell takes the free kick.

75:41

Mohamadou Sissoko challenges Arvydas Novikovas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Fraser Mullen has an effort direct from the free kick, Ryan O'Leary gets a block in.

74:51

Jeroen Tesselaar gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamie Walker. Direct free kick taken by Andy Webster.

73:21 Substitution

Substitution Manuel Pascali leaves the field to be replaced by Ryan O'Leary.

70:52

Borja Perez provided the assist for the goal.

70:52 Goal scored

Goal - Paul Heffernan - Hearts 0 - 3 Kilmarnock A goal is scored by Paul Heffernan from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Hearts 0-3 Kilmarnock.

70:27

Borja Perez takes a shot. Save by Jamie MacDonald.

68:23

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Fraser Mullen, Header by Andy Webster from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

67:03

Cameron Bell restarts play with the free kick.

67:03 Substitution

Substitution Arvydas Novikovas on for Billy King.

67:03

The ball is sent over by Billy King, Michael Ngoo takes a shot. Clearance by Sammy Clingan. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Manuel Pascali by Andy Webster.

66:31

Corner taken short by Jamie Walker.

66:21

Paul Heffernan is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Andy Webster.

65:21 Substitution

Substitution Danny Racchi on for James Dayton.

64:29

Assist on the goal came from William Gros.

64:29 Goal scored

Goal - Paul Heffernan - Hearts 0 - 2 Kilmarnock Paul Heffernan finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Hearts 0-2 Kilmarnock.

63:40

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by James Dayton from the left by-line.

63:16

Headed effort on goal by Scott Robinson from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the goal.

62:43

Corner taken by Jamie Walker from the left by-line, clearance by Manuel Pascali.

61:10

Foul by James Fowler on Callum Tapping, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Danny Wilson.

59:46

Manuel Pascali concedes a free kick for a foul on Billy King. Fraser Mullen produces a cross, John Sutton produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.

59:46 Booking

Booking Manuel Pascali is shown a yellow card.

58:21

Jamie Walker takes a shot. Save by Cameron Bell.

57:12

Jamie Walker concedes a free kick for a foul on Sammy Clingan. Free kick taken by Manuel Pascali.

55:58

Unfair challenge on James Fowler by Scott Robinson results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Cameron Bell.

54:24

James Dayton is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Jamie MacDonald restarts play with the free kick.

52:28

James Dayton takes a shot. Save made by Jamie MacDonald. Corner taken by Borja Perez from the right by-line.

52:01

Jamie Walker takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Borja Perez.

51:13

Corner taken right-footed by Fraser Mullen, Mohamadou Sissoko makes a clearance.

50:03

Mohamadou Sissoko concedes a free kick for a foul on John Sutton. Shot comes in from Fraser Mullen from the free kick, save by Cameron Bell.

49:16

Scott Robinson takes a shot. Save made by Cameron Bell. Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Walker from the left by-line, Manuel Pascali manages to make a clearance.

48:03

The referee penalises Andy Webster for handball. Sammy Clingan restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution John Sutton comes on in place of Jason Holt.

45:00 +6:04 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +5:15

Dylan McGowan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Heffernan. Direct free kick taken by Jeroen Tesselaar.

45:00 +4:48

Paul Heffernan concedes a free kick for a foul on Callum Tapping. Direct free kick taken by Scott Robinson.

43:44

Outswinging corner taken by Borja Perez, Michael Ngoo manages to make a clearance.

43:07

Jamie Walker gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on William Gros. Sammy Clingan takes the direct free kick.

41:25

James Dayton provided the assist for the goal.

41:25 Goal scored

Goal - Paul Heffernan - Hearts 0 - 1 Kilmarnock Goal scored by Paul Heffernan from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hearts 0-1 Kilmarnock.

41:23

James Dayton crosses the ball,

39:45

Jamie Walker takes a shot. Save by Cameron Bell.

36:16 Substitution

Substitution Dylan McGowan on for Darren Barr.

28:01

The offside flag is raised against Michael Ngoo. Indirect free kick taken by Cameron Bell.

26:37

Unfair challenge on James Dayton by Fraser Mullen results in a free kick. Sammy Clingan restarts play with the free kick.

23:15

The ball is delivered by Fraser Mullen, Header from deep inside the area by Jamie Walker goes over the bar.

18:38

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie Walker.

13:35

Foul by Borja Perez on Andy Webster, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Jason Holt.

12:31

Handball decision goes against William Gros. Free kick taken by Danny Wilson.

10:57

The offside flag is raised against Paul Heffernan. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.

9:43

Corner taken by Fraser Mullen from the right by-line, clearance by Mohamadou Sissoko.

3:15

Effort on goal by James Fowler from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

2:55

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on William Gros by Danny Wilson. Direct free kick taken by William Gros.

2:18

Unfair challenge on William Gros by Callum Tapping results in a free kick. Sammy Clingan takes the free kick.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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