Lack of goal threats has hit Hearts for six

UNCHARTERED territory beckons for Hearts following a subdued performance at Rugby Park. They have hitherto managed to avoid the SPL's bottom six, however a familiar problem has resurfaced to condemn the Edinburgh side to five ignominious post-split fixtures – namely, a lack of attacking threat.

Earlier this season, Angel Chervenkov's insistence on deploying a lone striker left everyone connected with Tynecastle thoroughly exasperated. Stephen Frail's appointment as caretaker manager seemed initially to alleviate concern as the side resumed a conventional 4-4-2 formation. But in recent matches even Frail has adopted the same approach as the languid Bulgarian, resulting in just one goal in Hearts' last three matches.

Calum Elliot led the line alone, with Larry Kingston offering midfield support in the damaging 0-0 draw with Falkirk, then Christian Nade was at the apex of a 4-5-1 formation in last week's 1-0 victory over Dundee United.

On Saturday, the same approach proved costly. Despite Nade's bulky frame, Hearts caused an impressive Kilmarnock side little menace and were similarly devoid of midfield craft.

Reasons for Frail resorting to prudent tactics clearly lie in decisions taken by the club hierarchy. Vladimir Romanov, gazing on from the Rugby Park directors' box flanked by Anatoli Korobochka and Alex Koslovski, could not fail to recognise his team's enfeebled forward movement. Apportioning blame for this to the majority shareholder would not be unwarranted, for it was he who sanctioned the departures of Roman Bednar, Michal Pospisil and Andrius Velicka, thus leaving Frail's options distinctly limited.

Elliot's current confidence crisis leaves Nade as Hearts' only recognised striker, but one who is least effective when deployed alone. Kilmarnock gave their visitors a first-half chasing and ought to have been comfortably ahead by the break, after which Frail introduced teenager Gary Glen to partner Nade. Deputy keeper Anthony Basso's often stupefying saves continually kept Jim Jefferies' side at bay, but at the opposite end the necessary incision was again missing.

"The result was disappointing, the performance was disappointing and that just sums up the whole season really," said Frail.

"The players knew what was at stake and the way they played at times was like a testimonial match and Kilmarnock certainly didn't play like that. We were probably lucky to get away with a point and it hurts me to say that they looked hungrier.

"I'm not going to say we were unlucky. We were nowhere near good enough. We would have had no complaints if we'd have gone in at half-time two or three goals down, but we weren't and we used that as a positive. In the end we only had one real chance with Nade's header and had we got that it would have been a real smash and grab job."

That the Frenchman nodded Michael Stewart's late free-kick harmlessly off-target when unmarked from three yards out was indicative of Frail's problem. He simply needs an instinctive goalscorer. Bottom-six fixtures may present the opportunity to nurture one, like Glen for example, but that is no comfort. Even another clean sheet, achieved through Basso's brilliance, offered scant consolation.

Frail kept the away dressing-room door locked for 45 minutes after full-time, perhaps spending a large portion of that period questioning Larry Kingston as to why he headed for the tunnel when substituted on 65 minutes. The Ghanaian refused even to shake hands with his replacement, Michael Stewart, instead offering a thumbs-up from distance. "Players do that, it's something we'll need to look at," said Frail. After Nade's petulance against United, Kingston's was a reaction the interim manager didn't need.

He saw an assured display from Fernando Screpis on his first start and would have been additionally impressed by Ruben Palazuelos and Ibrahim Tall, the latter returning from injury. Nonetheless, that couldn't beat the overriding discontent at missing the top six.

"My emotions are just frustration and disappointment. I'm hurt that we didn't do it," continued Frail, aware that victory would have secured Hearts' place in the SPL's upper half provided Aberdeen beat Falkirk tonight. "We've let a very large following down from Edinburgh, not just on Saturday but throughout the season. I'm pretty certain the players are feeling the same way. I don't know why they took so long to get going.

"Obviously we can't go any higher in the league now but it's up to ourselves to make sure that we don't go any lower. It's up to everyone involved, from myself right down to the players, to make sure that we win these remaining five games."

Jefferies was rightly heartened by his side's display. A plethora of first-half efforts were repelled by Basso, notably from Danny Invincibile and David Lilley, as it became difficult to decipher which team was challenging for the top six.

"There was a lot of great play and their goalkeeper had two or three great saves," said Jefferies. "We're delighted with our boys and we told them that at half-time. We've played Hearts three times this season and they've yet to beat us." The Kilmarnock manager was slightly bemused by the dismissal of Frazer Wright. "I thought it was soft," he said after the centre-back's first-half caution for squaring up to Saulius Mikoliunas preceded a late second yellow card for a late challenge on Nade.

Jefferies is resolved to rebuilding for next season, an approach which may simultaneously serve Hearts well.

With a new manager expected, Frail remains unsure of his own future. "Getting the job long-term has never been in my thoughts," he said. "Whether or not I'll be here next season, this club will go on. If I'm here, I'm here. If not, I'll just need to get on with it somewhere else."