At the end of a week which saw many a favourite falter at the most inopportune moment, what a blow this was to Hearts’ chances of going the distance.
While Derek McInnes’ men remain out in front in the title race, this stumble as the home straight comes into view will inevitably lead to questions about their staying power.
While the side has been imperious in Gorgie this term, it’s the points spilled on the road which speak to a vulnerability. In 15 away games, there have now been five losses and two draws.
If, come May, the club’s supporters are left to reflect on what might have been, it will be those slip-ups on their travels which will have been decisive.
As hard as Hearts tried, the spirit of a Kilmarnock side which is fighting for survival just would not be broken.
Aggressive and energised, Neil McCann’s men deservedly edged in front early on through Michael Schjonning-Larsen and didn’t look back.
Michael Schjonning-Larsen celebrates with his Rugby Park team-mates after hitting the opener
Amid the disappointment at failing to match Celtic’s earlier victory over Motherwell, McInnes won’t need to remind his men that they are still in an enviable position with just eight games to go.
The consolation for all concerned is that Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin will soon be ready to go again. On this showing, their returns won’t come a minute too soon.
‘It’s a reminder to all the players,’ said McInnes, who revealed that Tomas Magnusson sustained a fractured cheekbone.
‘We have to say that our efforts tonight weren’t enough. We didn’t show enough quality. I thought one or two looked a bit leggy.
‘There were certainly one or two who were really off it. Our players have represented our club brilliantly this season. I’m not going to start being too harsh on them and being too aggressive with all that side of it.
‘But I think we’ve got to remind ourselves about what needs to get done when you come away from home in the Scottish Premiership. You’ve got to compete better than we did in the early part of the game.’
How badly Kilmarnock needed this outcome. Bluntly, after being hammered 5-1 by Falkirk, it was hard to see how they could live with the best side in the country.
This gutsy display confounded that assessment. For the Rugby Park faithful, the hope will be that it proves a turning point in what’s been a desperate campaign.
Now level on points with St Mirren, they will know that if they reach these levels in the remaining eight matches, there should be few concerns about their top-flight status.
Derek McInnes endured a troubled return to the home of his former club Kilmarnock
‘I’m proud of the reaction,’ said McCann. ‘I did believe Falkirk was a blip.’
You would not have known that Kilmarnock were short on belief as they went after the visitors.
Findlay Curtis epitomised their approach, bobbing and weaving on the left, looking for the opening. Only the upright denied him an opener after a deflected strike.
The on-loan Rangers player then drifted away from Michael Steinwender and hung up a cross. David Watson’s header was blocked on the line by Harry Milne.
Killie didn’t have the goal their start deserved, but they were coming closer.
Hearts, in contrast, couldn’t get a grip on the game. When Alexandros Kyziridis had a cross-field pass cut out, McInnes made his feelings clear. This wasn’t going to plan.
Arriving on 17 minutes, the home side’s opener was superbly crafted with patient passing moving the point of the attack from left to right.
Greg Kiltie dropped a shoulder to create half a yard of space. His cross was deep and measured. It caught Steinwender dreaming. Schjonning-Larsen moved in and swept home his first goal for Kilmarnock.
Although Claudio Braga had seen an earlier volley deflected off target, Hearts just didn’t settle.
Pierre Landry Kabore attempts a shot on goal as he tries to drag Hearts back into the game
The visitors’ star man was starved of service. It needed an unforced error from Liam Polworth to hand him his next opportunity. Kelle Roos threw himself to his left to prevent the forward’s fierce left-foot hit from beating him.
Killie had a minor dip midway through the first period which allowed Magnusson to flash a right-footer narrowly wide.
McCann’s men came again. Joe Hugill fired a low strike through a thicket of legs. Alexander Schwolow saw it late but did just enough.
Curtis was enjoying himself. Quick feet saw him skip between two opponents. A stinging strike from the left edge of the box again required the Hearts keeper to respond.
Hearts showed more urgency after the break. Blair Spittal worked Roos following a lapse by Robbie Deas. At the other end, Hugill didn’t make the most of a break of the ball after a Curtis shot had deflected into his path.
As Hearts got marginally better, Killie got deeper. Roos had to be alert to prevent Milne levelling from a tight angle.
Breaking clear, Curtis’ pace looked like settling the match until Craig Halkett bundled him to the ground on the edge of box at the cost of a yellow card.
With time running out, Hearts lacked the quality to even salvage a point. They could have no complaints about how this feeble effort ended.
Kilmarnock (4-4-2): Roos; Brandon, Stanger, Deas, Schjonning-Larsen (Thompson 70); Watson (Lowery 63), Tshibola (Mayo 89), Polworth, Curtis (Thomson 83); Kiltie (McKenzie 70), Hugil (Watkins 83). Booked: Deas, Polworth.
Hearts (4-1-3-2): Schwolow; Steinwender (Altena 56), Halkett, McCart, Milne (Kerjota 81); Leonard; Kyziridis, Magnusson (McEntee 35), Spittal (Kent 88); Braga, Kabore (Chesnokov 45, Kabangu 88). Booked: Halkett, Kyziridis.
Referee: David Dickinson 7
Attendance: 8,242.
