Kilmarnock earned a valuable Premiership point in a 1-1 draw with Heart of Midlothian at Rugby Park on Saturday. The Ayrshire side took an early lead through a Hearts own goal but were pegged back by a late Stephen Kingsley strike.
Neil McCann's team moved onto five points from seven games, remaining 12th in the league standings. The result extends their recent unbeaten run to three matches in all competitions, following a win over Hibernian and a draw with Aberdeen.
Early advantage
The hosts went ahead after 16 minutes when Hearts defender Jamie McCart turned the ball into his own net. Kilmarnock defended that lead doggedly for much of the match, with Cathal McCarthy picking up an early yellow card for a foul. The visitors dominated possession, holding 67 percent of the ball and forcing Kilmarnock goalkeeper C. Ferrie into two saves.
Hearts pressure tells
Hearts finally found a way through with just four minutes of normal time remaining. Stephen Kingsley, who had been booked earlier for a foul, fired home to level the score at 1-1. Kilmarnock made three substitutions in the second half as they tried to see out the game, bringing on Aaron Tshibola, Mark O'Hara and Rory McKenzie. Michael Schjønning-Larsen received a late yellow card for the home side.
The point keeps Kilmarnock clear of the immediate relegation zone. They face a tough test in their next Premiership fixture, travelling to face second-placed Rangers on 10 October.
The club confirmed that Hearts had a goal controversially disallowed by VAR just before Kilmarnock took the lead at Rugby Park. Head Coach Wouter Vrancken stated Laurent Mendy's 13th-minute effort was ruled out for handball against the midfielder. Kilmarnock's recent form now reads one win, three draws and one loss from their last five Premiership matches. They sit 12th with five points from seven games.
