30th March 2024 Hearts 1 Kilmarnock 1
Back to Tynecasle today for Hearts SPL encounter with Kilmarnock. After lunch I left home at around 14.15 to walk to Tynecastle arriving fifteen minutes later. I updated my arrival in my Futbology app before entering the stadium as the reception inside is sometimes dodgy. After scanning my season ticket I headed for my seat in the main stand. Surprisingly reception today was good and I was able to update team lineups on Futbology prior to kick off.
Hearts made four changes afte three defeat at Ross County before the international break. In came Dexter Lembiska, Frankie Kent, Jorge Grant and Macaulay Tait. Tait was making his first start and several impressive substitute appearance. Both Lembikisa and substitute Kye Rowles had scored in internationals during the break and it looked like a promising omen for Hearts. As for Kilmarnock I do not like them as a side but they do have a good record at Tynecastle. In 1965 they won the league on goal average ahead oh Hearts. Given Hearts also finished second on goal average to Celtic it is ironic that had the final calculations been reversed Hearts would have won two additional league titles. Kilmarnock manager Derek McIness struggled to avoid relegation last season but have rebuilt their side over the close season and improved dramatically having beaten both Rangers and Celtic this season. With former Hearts player Gary Mackay-Steven and former Hearts trialist Joe Wright in the squad there are strong links between the two sides.
Kilmarnock had the first chance of the famine when Narkey Watkins headed a cross from natty Kennedy straight into the arms of Zander Clark. However Hearts came back into the game and took lead after nine minutes. Alex Cochrane sent a cross into the penalty area from the left. Lawrence Shankland gathered the ball just outside the six yard box on the right and clipped it back into the six yard box. Kenneth Vargas headed it into the net from inside the six yard box despite the attentions of Wright. Hearts were now playing well with Shankland working hard despite being pushed and pulled every time he went for the ball by a physically strong Kilmarnock defence. However just before the halftime time whistle Clark did well to claw away a header from Marley Watkins.
The second half was a complete contrast to the first with Kilmarnock taking control.they equalised after sixty-six minutes. They had a good moved down the left and the ball came to Kyle Vassell just outside the penalty area in the centre of the field. He hit a short pass to Watkins on the left of the box. The striker took a touch and then hit a terrific shot across goal into the far corner of the net giving Clark no chance of making a save. With the sun setting I have to admit my view of the goal was a bit dodgy but I watched it on Sportscene that evening. To be honest the remainder of the game was pretty boring with Kilmarnock looking the better side but neither time making neither goalkeeper have a difficult save to make.
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