Hearts player ratings vs Kilmarnock: VAR impact, ruthless Vrancken and late grit as draw sparks mixed emotions

Hearts struck late to claim a share of the spoils in their gritty 1-1 Premiership draw with Kilmarnock.

The Jambos had an opening goal chopped off before Joe Hugill handed Killie the lead inside a pulsating opening quarter. A frustrating match played out for the visitors, but JJ Williams missed a major chance to win the game deep into second half stoppage time, after Stephen Kingsley ensured parity was restored minutes beforehand. A three-week international break now ensues before the Jambos are next in action against St Mirren at Tynecastle on October 10.

After a turbulent start under head coach Wouter Vrancken, it had all been going swimmingly for the best part of a month, before Tuesday’s setback at Falkirk. Losing 2-1 against the Bairns was a bump in the road for Hearts, and making sure they bounced back quickly was what their Belgian leader sought, heading into an extended period of cold storage.

Midfielder Ageu returned to the bench in a boost for Vrancken after missing all of this season so far and pointed towards a squad starting to regroup. It’s been a busy start at home and in Europe that’s been littered with quick turnarounds and injury issues. Neil McCann’s hosts - now on grass instead of artificial turf at Rugby Park - had turned a corner of their own after a much needed away win at Hibs midweek.

They still entered this bottom though and the onus was on the visitors from Gorgie to take control of proceedings. That command was taken with Kilmarnock camped in their own half early doors, some dangerous crosses into the home box causing concern, albeit without goalkeeper Calum Ferrie overly tested. He was forced to deny a well-worked set-piece where Kingsley slipped in Calvin Miller, forcing a low save, before VAR was needed to bail Killie out. Mendy’s powerful effort after yet another cross deflected its way into the net before Matthew MacDermid on VAR advised referee Duncan Nicolson to chop it off for handball in the build-up.

Then with their first foray forward, a long ball over the top left the maroon defence wide open, Hugill keeping his calm to put the ball beyond Hearts goalkeeper Beau Reus. From joy to disbelief in a matter of minutes for the Tynecastle side who’s boss was left aggrieved by how easy it was to cut his team open. McCann was almost equally as miffed when Ferrie got caught on the ball, James Wilson intercepting, but no teammates were on hand to tap home what would have been a certain leveller.

A goal against them though seemed to rock Hearts, their strong start beginning to be repelled by those in blue and white, despite still controlling possession. Loose passes were sparking frustrations and a packed away end demanded quicker play. A 1-0 loss here in March was one of the club’s poorest in an otherwise stellar campaign last season and this wasn’t going much better.

Vrancken’s displeasure seemingly appeared with left-back Harry Milne replacing centre-half Stuart Findlay with 30 minutes on the clock and no injury apparent. Reus gifting Killie a chance with a poor clearance was the next thing to irritate his manager and the subsequent last-ditch defending ending with home possession appeared to annoy him further. Half-time fixes were needed with this performance deteriorating the longer proceedings commenced. Josh McPake and Wilson efforts - Ferrie stopping the Scotland international from mere yards out - showed this was far from done though.

Three more changes came on the hour and Ageu’s return to action was a welcome sight. Sabri Guendouz came on with him and the playmaker got the away fans on their feet with a couple of speculative efforts that outlined his attacking intent. The clear chance they had been desperate for landed on the head of striker Williams from a corner but the American couldn’t find a way to goal with just Ferrie to beat.

Kingsley didn’t miss off their next set-piece as Kerjota swung deep and the man with the captain’s armband converted. It was almost so much more for Hearts as Williams failed to make good contact in a moment where any such connection would have won the game before Kerjota whistled an effort by the post. It’s not the outcome they wanted but a share of the spoils will be taken in a game they trailed in the majority of. Some rest will do the Gorgie group some good before a relentless run of fixtures in October commences. Here’s how we rated the Hearts players at Kilmarnock.

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