Robbie Neilson says Hearts were prepared for Jamie MacDonald's penalty feats

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson insisted Jamie MacDonald's penalty heroics came as no surprise as the Jambos closed in on a European place with a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock.

The former Hearts goalkeeper, who won the Scottish Cup with the club in 2012, turned in a man-of-the-match display at Tynecastle, saving two penalty kicks yet still emerging on the losing side.

He made his first spot-kick stop after seven minutes, stooping to parry Jamie Walker's effort against the post, only for the winger to react quickest to prod home the rebound - just as Neilson had advised before the fixture.

MacDonald then stopped Abiola Dauda's penalty in the second half, nevertheless Hearts held on to claim the victory.

Neilson said: That's what Jamie is good at - shot-stopping. I spoke to the players before and I said, 'If we get a penalty, get in for that second ball because we know he is very good at that, that's his forte'.

Anything around about him, he will save it.

He has saved two penalties at Tynecastle and there won't be too many people who have done that.

If we had got the second goal it would have killed the game. But it got more difficult and then I thought we defended well.''

Sam Nicholson hit the post for Hearts, while MacDonald also stopped a low drive from Walker and, with Kilmarnock pushing for an equaliser, the hosts navigated a nervous finale.

The triumph allowed Hearts to move 11 points clear of St Johnstone and Ross County in third place, tightening their grip on a position that would be enough to secure a return to the Europa League for the capital club.

However, Neilson has more lofty ambitions as he aims to catch Aberdeen in second spot, with nine points separating the sides.

He said: With Aberdeen, St Johnstone and Celtic dropping points and Ross County losing it gives us a real lift and pushes us up there.

We want to aim up the way and aim for Aberdeen and if we do that we'll stay away from fourth place.''

Kilmarnock's defeat was compounded by rock-bottom Dundee United claiming a shock 3-0 win over Ross County, closing the gap to the Ayrshire outfit to eight points. The Terrors also have a game in hand.

Nevertheless, manager Lee Clark, who is still seeking his first win since taking the reins at Rugby Park, insists the results have not shaken the resolve that Kilmarnock will secure top-flight survival.

Clark said: We can only affect our own results, but there is definitely enough here and we just have to believe we have got enough. I do and the staff do, and we've got to keep ploughing on.

This was always going to be a tough game and we have more than held our own.

I think we put them under pressure without testing their goalkeeper enough. But I feel we deserved something from the game, for sure.''

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