Ten-man Kilmarnock dug deep to defeat feeble Hearts despite playing with a man short for 84 minutes.
The home side found themselves down to ten after just six minutes as Robbie Deas walked for an early challenge on Kenneth Vargas.
Referee Don Robertson initially booked the centre-back but was asked by the VAR to take a second look and upgraded to a red card.
But Killie didn’t look like the team reduced in numbers and just ten minutes later they were in front. James Penrice stuck a high boot up as Joe Wright went for a header and a penalty was awarded, Bruce Anderson tucking it away.
Hearts couldn’t find the solution as they tried to break the stubborn ten men down and Derek McInnes’ side were typically dogged and resolute.
Robbie Deas red card call
VAR had to get involved and aid the decision to send Deas off early in the game.
On the basis of the replays, the correct outcome was correctly reached.
Deas was straight-legged, over the ball and met Vargas’ ankle with the full force of his studs.
It is actually quite surprising Robertson didn’t think it worthy of a red card straight off.
Credit to Killie
It didn’t matter in the end though and credit is very much due to the Kilmarnock players who managed to get the win despite being down to 10 men for pretty much the entire match.
If there was a side and manager in the Scottish Premiership you would back to do just that it would be Killie and Derek McInnes, so it wasn’t much of a surprise.
But the Ayrshire men were actually pretty comfortable here and able to keep the men in maroon at arm’s length.
Powderpuff Hearts
Hearts’ problems this season are well known, struggling at both ends of the park. It was the poor attacking play that was evident today and they just never did anything to make you think they were going to find the breakthrough here.
Missing Lawrence Shankland through suspension after his return to form with a double against last weekend, the likes of Musa Drammeh and Kenneth Vargas didn’t offer enough of a threat.
There was no attacking potency or creativity and the Jambos are looking in real trouble as a result.
Kieran O’Hara didn’t have a save of note to make until a decent one to deny James Penrice on the 74th minute.
And while Yan Dhanda hit the bar late on it was too little, too late.
It has been confirmed Hearts are looking to sign a striker in January and today served to display just how much that is required.
It would seem they could do with more than just the one attacking reinforcement though, with a wide man or two potentially on the agenda.
Recruitment in general is going to be so important for them and that has been exacerbated by Frankie Kent’s ‘significant’ injury which Neil Critchley admits will keep him out long term.