Analysis: How Hearts saw off Kilmarnock in Premiership encounter

This was the type of performance that they had not witnessed from their team in quite some time. On an unforgiving and treacherous surface – many players lost their footing over the course of the 90 minutes – Steven Naismith’s men battled hard for the three points, defending stoutly as the match became increasingly fraught. Neither side could get their foot on the ball and exert some control, with both sets of players struggling to string any more than a few passes together before the opposition and the conditions conspired against them and they lost possession.

It was a different sort of challenge than the one that was presented to Hearts in the recent wins over Livingston, Motherwell and St Johnstone, but the result was the same: three points to the men in maroon. Let’s dive in and take a look at the sorts of problems Derek McInnes’ side caused Hearts – and how Hearts overcame them.

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Naismith’s show of faith

The back three of Kye Rowles, Frankie Kent and Stephen Kingsley continues to go from strength to strength, and Saturday’s victory was arguably the triumvirate’s best collective display of the season so far. They found themselves facing a heavy Kilmarnock barrage but stood up to the task well, defending resolutely to keep their opponents at bay. The pressure map below shows where Hearts did most of their defending and as we can see, much of it took place on the edge of their own box.

We’ve previously discussed the extra defensive rigour that is provided by the current formation, and this match was perhaps the best example of its merits. Between the three centre-halves, Beni Baningime in the No.6 position, and Jorge Grant and Calem Nieuwenhof dropping deep, Kilmarnock found it extremely difficult to attack through the middle. Corrie Ndaba, at left wing-back, was often reluctant to get forward, meaning Killie often ended up attacking down their right.

Lewis Mayo and Stuart Findlay, playing at right and left centre-back respectively, were playing long, diagonal passes whenever the opportunity arose, and Hearts never looked comfortable defending them. Hearts’ wing-backs, Alex Cochrane and Toby Sibbick (who replaced Yutaro Oda in the role when Liam Boyce was brought off half an hour into the match) each finished the game with an aerial duel success rate of 25 per cent. The cross-field balls were often used to get the ball out right, where Kilmarnock could then really hurt Hearts.

Danny Armstrong, so often the difference-maker for his team, was at his electric best on Saturday and caused Hearts all sorts of problems. He often found himself in 1v1 situations with Alex Cochrane and even though the Englishman came out on top on a few occasions, more often than not Armstrong had him beat. The 26-year-old was comfortable cutting inside or driving past Cochrane out wide, and his final ball was usually pretty good.

Armstrong was given room to play in, but it appears to have been a conscious decision from Naismith. Rather than trying to stop the cross at its source by asking Rowles to double up on Armstrong and help out Cochrane, the Australian held his position in the centre. It meant that there was often room in behind Cochrane to exploit – and Armstrong, being a skillful winger did just that – but it also meant that when the ball eventually came in, Hearts’ six-yard box was packed with bodies and the ball could be cleared. Below is a typical example from the first half.

The shaded area shows the space that Armstrong has to run into. Cochrane stands off the attacker, refusing to commit to a challenge in case he gets it wrong.

Armstrong makes it as far as the edge of the box before dropping the shoulder and bursting round the outside of Cochrane. The back three maintain their shape, though, and aren't drawn to the ball.

Armstrong hits his cross early but Rowles reads it well, flinging himself in the path of the ball and deflecting it behind for a corner.

So, why would Hearts allow one of Kilmarnock’s most dangerous players the opportunity to do what he does best? If we accept that Armstrong will likely win most of his 1v1 battles, then we accept that deliveries into the box are inevitable. The question then becomes one of organisation, and whether or not Hearts’ back three are up to the task of repelling the coming aerial bombardment. On Saturday, the answer was an emphatic yes.

Rowles, Kent and Kingsley dealt with Killie’s barrage and then some. Between them, the trio completed 35 clearances (the entire Kilmarnock team, for context, made 22) but Kent in particular deserves his fair share of praise. No one on the park completed more interceptions and the Englishman finished the match with a 100 per cent success rate in aerial duels.

Naismith knew he was asking a lot from his centre-backs against Kilmarnock, but it was a trade-off the head coach was willing to make because he knew that his defence was up to the task. There was an acceptance that Hearts would be under the cosh for spells of the game, and faith that Rowles, Kent and Kingsley were up to the challenge. And that faith was rewarded with a seventh league clean sheet of the season.

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Bravery on ball and breaking the lines

Naismith was showing a lot of faith in his defenders, but that still left the question of how Hearts could nudge themselves in front. While Hearts were doing most of their defending in and around their own box, McInnes’ side were pressing all over the park and not giving their opponents a moment’s peace. Plenty of attacks broke down as the ball bounced chaotically around the middle of the park, and Hearts didn’t look particularly effective in transition.

Hearts were getting some joy down the left, though. With Armstrong often Kilmarnock’s most advanced player, there was often space to attack. Shankland found himself drifting out on to the left wing and was getting into good areas, combining well with Grant and Cochrane on occasion. Boyce had a few chances – one in particular where he really ought to have at least hit the target – but the only goal of the game would come via an unusual source.

Will Dennis was credited with an own goal on Saturday, but it all started with some brave play on the ball from Rowles. The Australian received the ball at the back before sprinting forward, leaving Killie captain Kyle Vassell in his wake as he drove up the park.

Armstrong is drawn towards the ball, and Mayo steps towards Cochrane, before Rowles releases the pass to Boyce.

A clever touch from the Northern Irishman sends the ball through to Shankland, who is able to dart beyond the now off-balance Mayo and squeeze through the gap made by Cochrane.

There was a touch of fortune about the way in which the ball ultimately crossed the line, but this was Rowles’ bravery being rewarded. A loose pass or a slack touch could have resulted in a dangerous counter-attack for Kilmarnock, but he took the risk anyway and executed it well.

Further chances for Hearts were few and far between, but two of the biggest arose again thanks to line-breaking bursts forward with the ball at feet. A well-worked move midway through the second half started with Grant charging forward, disrupting Kilmarnock’s backline with incision.

Grant waits until he draws Mayo towards him before slipping the ball out to Oda, who is able to then slow things down to allow his team-mates to get up in support. The ball was eventually worked to Sibbick on the edge of the box.

The defender’s shot was blocked, but it was one of the rare attempts after taking the lead where Hearts managed to unlock the Killie defence and fashion a decent opening.

There was also a late chance for Cochrane to double Hearts’ lead and effectively kill the game, and again it arrived thanks to some brave play on the ball further back.

Cochrane starts the move initially by shrugging off a challenge from Vassell and decides instantly to join the attack.

The former Brighton player charged up the park, drawing Liam Donnelly towards him before slipping it through to Kyosuke Tagawa. He then continues his run, making sure he is always available to receive the ball at feet.

Even when it’s shifted inside to Aidan Denholm and then Shankland, Cochrane continues his run and a lovely back-heel from the striker tees up the wing-back.

Cochrane can’t beat Dennis on this occasion but the Englishman deserves credit for his work-rate and drive.

Just like Rowles and Grant before him, he gambled by committing an extra player to Hearts’ attack, thereby sewing disruption in Kilmarnock’s defensive ranks. On the few occasions in Ayrshire where Hearts broke Killie’s lines by driving menacingly at them, they were rewarded with a clear-cut sight at goal. It’s an effective ploy, and one that Hearts should be attempting more often. Naismith often speaks about the need for his players to be brave on the ball, and Saturday’s cagey encounter with Kilmarnock showed exactly why it’s so important.

Hearts were made to work hard for the three points in what was a bruising encounter with Kilmarnock. A combination of the opposition’s tough-tackling and hard-working midfield of Liam Donnelly, Brad Lyons and David Watson and the conditions themselves ensured the match would be something of a slog. Individual moments of bravery on the ball helped Hearts find a way through Killie’s stubborn resistance and at the other end, the team’s solid defensive shape, as well as a few standout performances from the back three, was enough for Hearts to maintain their clean sheet.

Faith in the defence’s abilities and bravery on the ball won this match for Hearts – and Naismith will be looking for more of the same with the big games coming thick and fast.