Hearts 3-1 Kilmarnock: Elliot brace helps brush Killy aside

TWO goals from a rejuvenated Calum Elliot and one from Bruno Aguiar were the highlights of a scintillating Hearts display as Kilmarnock were simply brushed aside at Tynecastle. Indeed, provided this form is maintained, the Edinburgh club can expect to cruise into the qualifying rounds of next season's Europa League.

Despite losing the first goal and watching Aguiar strike the post with a second-half penalty, Hearts' superiority overwhelmed their opponents in blustery conditions which hardly lent themselves to the entertaining fare on show.

Elliot started his first SPL match of the season and was involved in all three goals during a performance which touched the heights. He was also the player impeded for the penalty as Kilmarnock's defence toiled to combat his industrious attacking threat all afternoon. His contribution at the business end of the campaign will represent a tonic to manager Csaba Laszlo, who has complained about lack of goals from strikers all season.

Elliot has shown notable patience since returning from a loan spell at Livingston in January having often been left kicking his heels on the substitutes' bench, but on this evidence he will be a difficult man to dislodge from the forward line.

The pre-match surmising included whether Laszlo would start Janos Balogh or Jamie MacDonald in goal. The Hungarian had nursed a hamstring complaint all week while MacDonald has damaged finger ligaments, but Balogh was selected as one of three changes from the 2-2 draw with Rangers. The others involved Elliot starting ahead of Christian Nade and Andy Driver returning in place of Deividas Cesnauskis.

Kilmarnock began looking to dispense with a quite horrible recent league record detailing no wins since their 4-2 victory at Easter Road on December 27. In that period, 11 SPL fixtures had seen them score just seven times, yet just eight minutes into this encounter Balogh was picking the ball out of his net. A textbook cross by Mehdi Taouil to the back post was powered into the net by Danny Invincibile, who evaded Lee Wallace's attentions.

The goal, in truth, arrived against the run of play with Hearts having started brightly and at a considerably higher tempo than their visitors. The impetus remained with them and Alan Combe, the Kilmarnock goalkeeper, reacted instinctively to palm Andy Driver's 12th-minute volley for a corner. Ten minutes later, he could only parry a Marius Zaliukas flick and Elliot was on hand to plunder the equaliser.

David Lilley tackled Elliot from behind 25 yards from goal, Aguiar's free-kick was touched onwards by Zaliukas inside the penalty area and Combe failed to hold the ball, allowing Elliot to convert a true poacher's goal and lift his fragile confidence. Seven minutes later, the striker was on cloud nine after putting Hearts in front with a strike that possibly required even more instinct than his first. From Lee Wallace's through ball into the penalty area, he used the outside of his right boot to prod a one-touch finish into the net and leave Combe rooted to the spot.

Elliot ought to have secured his hat-trick before the interval when David Obua's perfect left-sided cross somehow eluded both him and Aguiar six yards from goal. He also skewed a pinpoint set-up by Driver wide of the right post, but it would be churlish to criticise him for misses given the predatory talents he had already shown.

By now Hearts were thriving with Elliot the catalyst for their dominance, but they still had to be mindful of Kilmarnock's aerial threat. In the closing minutes of the first half Balogh twice stopped headers from the imposing Kevin Kyle, and the second period began with Jim Jefferies reorganising his side by replacing full-back Grant Murray with midfielder William Gibson. The changes had little effect as, four minutes after the restart, Aguiar accentuated Hearts' superiority with the third goal.

Again Elliot was involved, Driver's cross landing at the striker's feet only for Manuel Pascali to block. Aguiar was roaming around the near post and gratefully scooped the loose ball beyond Combe with his left foot.

Ruben Palazuelos nodded over the crossbar before Kilmarnock substitute Ryan O'Leary bundled Elliot to the ground inside the penalty area as both players pursued a long ball. Surprisingly, Aguiar contrived to hit the post with the resultant penalty after Tynecastle natives had chanted for Elliot to take the kick.

Kilmarnock should have afforded themselves greater credibility in terms of the scoreline ten minutes from time with a glaring opportunity. Jamie Hamill's flighted free-kick was headed across goal by Kyle and O'Leary, with the goal gaping and Balogh out of reach, managed to head wide. Balogh then held a distant low drive from Invincibile, but Hearts closed out the game knowing it would take a miracle to deny them a thoroughly deserved victory.

Elliot left the field after 89 minutes to a standing ovation. He hasn't always enjoyed the best rapport with Hearts fans, but he retired content that this display would have gone a long way towards convincing his detractors.

Hearts (4-4-1-1): Balogh; Neilson, Karipidis, Zaliukas, Wallace; Obua, Stewart, Palazuelos, Driver; Aguiar; Elliot. Subs: MacDonald, Tullberg 90 (for Aguiar), Nade 89 (for Elliot), Cesnauskis, Jonsson 81 (for Stewart), McGowan, Templeton.

Kilmarnock: (4-4-2): Combe; Murray, Lilley, Ford, Hay; Invincibile, Hamill, Pascali, Taouil; Kyle, Fernandez. Subs: Rascle, Wright, Gibson 46 (for Murray), Skelton, O'Leary 57 (for Pascali), Flannigan, Anson 78 (for Fernandez).

Referee: David Somers.

Attendance: 13,659.