Daly impressed by Hearts' reaction as Jambos win at Kilmarnock

Jon Daly believed Hearts answered their critics with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Kilmarnock that saw both sides end the Ladbrokes Premiership match with 10 men.

Hearts picked up their first points of the season courtesy of a fine strike from Isma Goncalves, who was sent off with 20 minutes remaining. Kirk Broadfoot was also sent off for the hosts.

The Tynecastle side have endured a torrid start to the season following a shock League Cup exit and an opening-day thumping at Celtic Park. But interim boss Daly, who took charge of the first team after Ian Cathro's sacking, said momentum is building.

“To win here in the manner that we did shows a lot of people that these players have the characteristics that they've been getting questioned about,” Daly said.

“I'm delighted. We knew this would be a difficult place to come. We haven't won here since 2013, which shows you how difficult it is to come here and get the three points.

“But the players showed their desire, their work-rate, their effort. They showed that they have that in their locker.”

Hearts lined-up in an attacking 4-4-2 set-up, with Daly welcoming John Soutar back to the defence after a seven-month injury lay-off following a serious Achilles injury. He also restored Jamie Walker to the bench amid continued interest from Rangers in the midfielder.

Goncalves was also back in the first XI after his consolation goal from the bench at Celtic Park last weekend. And the Portuguese took his goal brilliantly with only six minutes on the clock, turning Broadfoot with ease to collect Armaud Djoum's pass to fire a shot low into the bottom corner.

“Isma took his goal really, really well,” a delighted Daly said. “That's what he does. He worked extremely hard for us today. People have questioned his work-rate and application off the ball but I thought he did really well.”

Lafferty and Goncalves linked up well in a game lacking any real quality, with Kilmarnock goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald denying Goncalves a second in the 20th minute. Northern Irishman Lafferty then somehow mishit an inch-perfect cross from his strike partner after some calamitous Kilmarnock defending.

Goncalves and Broadfoot experienced a physical tussle throughout but were adjudged to have crossed the line in the 69th minute, with referee Stephen Finnie sending both players off after what looked like an innocuous clash in the Kilmarnock half.

“Isma is adamant that Broadfoot pulled his hair,” Daly said. “If he has reacted, he shouldn't have done, but if someone pulls your hair then it's not nice on the pitch. You don't expect that on the pitch from another footballer.”

Kilmarnock will feel aggrieved not to have snatched a point, with Dominic winger Dominic Thomas denied an equaliser late on by an outstanding double save from Hearts keeper Jack Hamilton.

“To concede a goal after five minutes after a bit of miscommunication from the centre-halves is disappointing,” said Kilmarnock boss Lee McCulloch, who has now lost three on the bounce and welcomes Celtic to Rugby Park next.

“There are positives there. For 85 minutes we looked a threat, the signs are there that we're improving week by week.

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