March 30 2024 Matchzone: Hearts (A)
Kilmarnock picked up a vital point at Tynecastle that secured top-six.
Marley Watkins scored a stunning second half equaliser which cancelled out Kenneth Vargas’ opener.
The point, twinned with Hibernian losing at Ibrox, sealed top-six football for us with two games to spare.
Derek McInnes made one change to the starting line-up as David Watson dropped out for Lewis Mayo.
Killie had an early chance when Matty Kennedy found Marley Watkins with a cross, Zander Clark held well though to stop the chance.
Hearts hit Killie on the break after seven minutes with the ball falling to Vargas, but his shot from 20 yards was well saved by Will Dennis.
The Jambos found themselves in front as Vargas got his goal this time, he headed home in the 10th minute from a Lawrence Shankland assist.
Stuart Findlay went incredibly close after 27 minutes as he leapt highest for a header following a crossed free-kick from Danny Armstrong, but to the centre back’s agony it fizzed narrowly wide.
Hearts captain Shankland was allowed space on the edge of the box on the half-hour mark, but thankfully Dennis was equal to his effort getting down low well.
Killie had two fantastic chances just before half-time, firstly Joe Wright thundered a header at goal as Clark tipped it on to the crossbar.
Watkins then had an even better headed chance from an Armstrong cross, but Clark pulled off an even better save this time to ensure Hearts headed into the break ahead.
It was a relatively even start to the second half with Killie pushing to get level, and they did exactly that thanks to Watkins who curled home a stunning long range effort in the 67th minute.
Wright went close in the 88th minute with another header, but again it wasn’t to be for him as he fired wide.
Score: Hearts 1-1 Kilmarnock
Team: Dennis, Mayo, Wright (McKenzie 88), Findlay, Deas (Ndaba 74), Armstrong (Mackay-Steven 74), Polworth, Donnelly (Watson 53), Kennedy, Watkins, Vassell (Van Veen 74)
