Hearts 1-1 Kilmarnock

Andrius Velicka scored the equaliser for 10-man Hearts

Andrius Velicka's goal saved 10-man Hearts from slipping to their seventh consecutive league defeat.

Kilmarnock's Paul Di Giacomo celebrated his return after a loan spell at Partick with a cool finish from Jamie Hamill's cross in the 44th minute.

Hearts dominated a lacklustre first-half before Calum Elliot was sent-off for two bookable offences.

But the Tynecastle outfit came roaring back in the second half and Velicka earned a point with a close-range shot.

Interview: Hearts caretaker manager Stephen Frail

Interview: Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies

Hearts caretaker boss Stevie Frail made five changes to the side that lost 4-1 to Dundee United.

Andrew Driver was injured, Saulius Mikoliunas relegated to the bench, and Marius Zaliukas, Michael Stewart and Lee Wallace all suspended after being sent off at Tannadice.

Christos Karipidis, Eggert Jonsson, Audrius Ksanavicius, Jose Goncalves and Deividas Cesnauskis were brought in.

Martyn Corrigan made his Kilmarnock following his transfer from Motherwell.

Killie boss Jim Jefferies was without the suspended Frazer Wright and injured pair Mehdi Taouil and Gary Wales.

David Fernandez was dropped as Tim Clancy, Gary Locke and Paul Di Giacomo were restored to the starting line-up.

Hamill and Locke were off target from long range for Kilmarnock, before Elliot was booked for a scything challenge on Danny Invincibile.

Paul Di Giacomo put Kilmarnock in front against the run of play

Hearts managed the first effort on target in the 33rd minute when Ruben Palazuelos met Robbie Neilson's deep cross but the Spaniard was too far out to trouble Alan Combe with his header.

But Combe had to be at his best moments later when Ksanavicius broke clear to fire a powerful strike that the Killie goalkeeper palmed over.

Elliot then saw red for catching Clancy after he had cleared and the striker received his second yellow card.

Hamill's powerful effort from a tight angle forced Steve Banks to palm clear, but Di Giacomo broke the deadlock when he volleyed home Hamill's cross.

Hearts were a different proposition in the second half and Velicka equalised in the 63rd minute.

Deividas Cesnauskis' corner was headed on by Christophe Berra and Velicka bundled the ball home.

Invincibile spurned a great chance to win it for Kilmarnock late in the game. Hearts held on for the draw but slip to 11th in the table.

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Hearts: Banks; Neilson, Karipidis, Berra, Goncalves, Cesnauskis, Palazuelos, Jonsson, Ksanavicius, Elliot, Velicka. Subs: Basso, McGowan, Nade, Pospisil, Mikoliunas, Beniusis, Brown.

Booked: Elliot

Sent-off: Elliot

Goals: Velicka, 63

Kilmarnock: Combe; Corrigan, Ford, Clancy, Hay, Invincibile, Locke, Fowler, Hamill, Nish, Di Giacomo. Subs: Harpur, Johnston, Morgan, Gibson, Fernandez, Flannigan, Wright.

Booked: Nish

Ref: J Underhill

Att: 14,346