Hearts moved up to third in the cinch Premiership with a spirited 1-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
A goalkeeping error from Will Dennis was enough to ensure that Derek McInnes marked his 700th game in management with a defeat.
Dennis turned Lawrence Shankland’s shot into his own net after 18 minutes and, despite controlling possession for much of the game, the hosts were unable to come up with a response.
Hearts have leapfrogged St Mirren to move into the top three, while Killie have dropped to seventh having suffered their first league defeat at Rugby Park in six matches.
McInnes made two changes to the side that was held to a goalless draw against Ross County in their previous outing. Corrie Ndaba and Kyle Vassell were preferred to Rory McKenzie and Matthew Kennedy – who both began the game on the bench.
There were also two changes for Hearts, with Calem Nieuwenhof and Yutaro Oda handed starting berths.
The first chance of the match went the way of the hosts, Liam Donnelly blazing wide after David Watson had done well to keep the ball in play.
It was the hosts who had made the much brighter start and Ndaba had a shot that flew past the post before he then headed over after rising highest to meet Marley Watkins’ cross.
Hearts had struggled to create anything of note in an attacking sense, though it would take a good block from Lewis Mayo to divert Liam Boyce’s powerful effort behind for a corner.
A quick VAR check deemed there was no handball inside the area from the resulting corner before the visitors broke the deadlock two minutes later.
Shankland burst forward and angled a shot towards the Killie goal that slipped through the grasp of Dennis and into the net.
The home side passed up a glorious chance to level after Danny Armstrong picked out Watson but he was unable to work Zander Clark.
Much of the attacking threat from Hearts was coming on the break and Boyce was unable to take advantage after being released following some neat play from Nieuwenhof.
Boyce limped off on the half-hour mark to be replaced by Toby Sibbick, a setback to the striker who spent the majority of last season sidelined with a torn cruciate ligament.
There was a moment of controversy with five minutes remaining in the first half when Dennis rushed from his goal before clattering into Oda. The offside flag had been raised, though the keeper still was shown a yellow card and was spared a red after referee David Dickinson consulted VAR.
A fizzing cross by Armstrong evaded all inside the six-yard box and the winger would continue to torment the Hearts back-line when he found Ndaba, who saw his point-blank header kept out brilliantly by Clark on the stroke of half-time.
Watkins had a penalty claimed turned down after yet another VAR check just after the restart and for all the home side’s possession they were struggling to trouble the Hearts keeper.
Good work from Shankland led to Sibbick having a low drive blocked, while at the other end Donnelly’s strike cannoned back off the legs of a Hearts defender and away to safety.
Armstrong’s back-post header was easily smothered while Alex Cochrane and Alex Lowry both went close at the other end.
McInnes’ side would spurn two good chances in injury time, Stuart Findlay headed over Kennedy’s corner and then Donnelly blasted straight at Clark from inside the six-yard box.
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Atletico are 𝐎𝐔𝐓 of the Club World Cup Garnacho wearing Marcus Rashford's Aston Villa shirt and post on social media If you know, you know Unsuccessful hate watch The State of Brazilian Football in a Nutshell.. Pep Guardiola's Man City could face Real Madrid in the Round of 16 of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup — as things stand! Shooters shoot Ple...
Spurs agree shock £5m deal to sign Japan star Kota TakaiPer Alasdair Gold of Football.London, Spurs have agreed a £5m deal to sign Kota Takei from Kawasaki, with the defender set to play in Thomas Frank's first team next season. The 20-year-old was identified by technical director Johan Lange, and is seen as having the potential to grow in the first-team like Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar S...
Manchester United have returned to Brentford with a renewed offer for winger Bryan Mbeumo, sources have told ESPN.United have indicated they're willing to pay a fee in excess of £60 million -- with a higher proportion due up front -- and closer to Brentford's valuation, around £65 million, for the Cameroon international.Negotiations between the two clubs have been ongoing for weeks and s...
Former Arsenal and Chelsea star William Gallas believes Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho will return to the Premier League - but on one condition.WHAT HAPPENED?Mourinho is currently halfway through his two-year contract at Fenerbahce, and last month he said he expects to stay with the Turkish giants next season. Last October, the Portuguese did say he was "ready" to head back to the English top-fligh...
Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly ‘weighing up’ a blockbuster swap deal involving Alejandro Garnacho. Talks between the two Premier League clubs are yet to commence but they are said to be considering whether Garnacho and Blues forward Christopher Nkunku could move in opposing directions.Ruben Amorim is widely reported to have decided that the Argentina international can fin...
Tottenham to trigger Eze's 368M release clause as Frank prepares for Son exitTottenham boss Thomas Frank is to bid for Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze as reports suggest captain Heung-min Son is leaving.Eze has enjoyed the best season of his career by helping the Eagles win the FA Cup and potentially get a place in Europe if owner John Textor can work out a deal with UEFA. According to The Mirr...
Donnarumma reveals PSG contract talksGigio Donnarumma has confirmed new contract talks with PSG.The Italy goalkeeper has a deal to 2026 with the European champions and been linked with a move away in recent days.But speaking to reporters at the Club World Cup, Donnarumma has intimated he expects to soon agree a new deal with the Parisians.The 26 year-old said: "We're moving forward, we're moving f...
Fenerbahce making 'serious progress' in Jadon Sancho talksJadon Sancho could be set to join Turkish giants Fenerbahce as Jose Mourinho's side make 'serious progress' in talks with the winger.The 25-year-old has no future at Man United having spent the last 18-months on loan with Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea.Italian giants Napoli and Juventus have been heavily linked with a move for Sancho but he ...
Liverpool eye Malick Fofana as Federico Chiesa replacementLiverpool are reportedly prioritizing a move for Lyon winger Malick Fofana with Federico Chiesa likely to return to Italy in the summer transfer window.Chiesa, 27, is increasingly likely to leave Liverpool after just one season with several clubs across Italy interested in bringing him home.Napoli, Roma, Inter, AC Milan and Atalanta have al...
Man United 'make contact' with Chelsea over 352 million flopMan United have reportedly made contact with Chelsea over a potential move for forward Christopher Nkunku in the summer transfer window.The 27-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge under Enzo Maresca, playing primarily in their Europa Conference League campaign.According to L'9quipe, Man United are interested in of...
- 1 Gareth Bale set to buy former PL club
- 2 'He felt honored' - Marcelo Gallardo confirms he approached Cristiano Ronaldo about playing for River Plate at the Club World Cup
- 3 Samson Tijani: Nigeria star joins Dukla Prague from RB Salzburg
- 4 Diletta Leotta sizzles in tiny bikini on inflatable flamingo
- 5 Seattle Sounders vs PSG Prediction 24 June 2025
- 6 Ex-Ajax star Promes extradited to Netherlands to serve jail term
- 7 Real Madrid reveal target as Zubimendi joins Arsenal
- 8 Neymar flaunts 'candy floss' pink outfit that costs more than a family car
- 9 Stunning influencer reveals she’s had death threats
- 10 Premier League fixtures: Man City learn dates for 2025-26 campaign