Hearts were back to somewhere near last season's best as Killie's attempt to reach top spot in the table came to nothing.

Stephane Adam and Steve Fulton scored the goals to give the home side their first win since late September, with Paul Wright grabbing a consolation for the visitors.

Manager Jim Jefferies criticised the fighting spirit of his players following a recent 3-0 League Cup semi-final defeat by St Johnstone and he was happy with their response.

"I thought maybe the luck was not going to go our way as we could have been 3-0 up after 10 minutes, but we caused them problems throughout," he said.

"When you have got a squad of players with the ability we have here it should always show."

Kilmarnock were lucky to escape in the second minute when Grant Murray glanced Fulton's free-kick narrowly wide.

Vicent Guerin crashed a shot against the crossbar but Hearts were not to be denied for long as Adam volleyed home after Gary McSwegan's deflected cross fell perfectly for him.

McSwegan somehow hit the post rather than the back of net from three yards before Killie forced Gilles Rousset into his first serious action with a Kevin McGowne header.

The French connection of Guerin and Adam provided the inspiration for Hearts and McSwegan wasted another opportunity after 25 minutes when he opted to volley a cross when a header would have been easier.

The visitors enjoyed more possession after the break but relaxed again at the back after 53 minutes and Murray fired just wide of the target.

Hearts began to struggle in the final third of the pitch as openings came and went but Fulton finally calmed their nerves with the second goal four minutes from time.

Wright's quick reply did little to ease the disappointment of Kilmarnock boss Bobby Williamson, but he said: "We have always reacted in a positive manner to setbacks in the past and now we have to concentrate on keeping our heads and responding well next week."

Hearts: Rousset, McPherson, Naysmith, Weir, Fulton, Adam, Locke, Pressley, Murray, Guerin, McSwegan. Subs: Ritchie, Hamilton, Quitongo, Juanjo, Strang.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, Montgomerie, McGowne, Holt, Durrant, Mitchell, Mahood, Vareille, Baker, Hamilton, Roberts. Subs: MacPherson, Reilly, Wright, Burke, Strain.