HEARTS BOSS RUES MISSED CHANCES

By Chris Bertram, PA Sport

Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas rued a lack of luck in front of goal following the goalless draw against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

Roman Bednar, Paul Hartley and Saul Mikoliunas all went close for the Tynecastle outfit, who were going in search of their third successive victory in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

But Kilmarnock held firm to avoid a third defeat in a row and pick up their first point of the Christmas and New Year programme.

Ivanauskas said: "I think we deserved to win this game with the chances we had - especially in the second half.

"We started the second half very well and created lots of chances but we didn't take them and that's football.

"We could even have lost it if you remember the chance that (Steven) Naismith had and a few other players had opportunities. That would have been even more disappointing.

"Maybe we will get a bit more luck in the next game. The good side is that we have created lots of chances and the negative is that we didn't score the goals we could have.

"The other plus is that we didn't concede and we end this year in good form and go into next year with more self confidence.

"Our defenders played well and in the last four games (Marius) Zaliukas and (Christophe) Berra have done very well and are now used to each other.

"This is good for both players and it was good from them today.

"This is one positive and the other is that we created chances. The goals will come on another day."

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies paid tribute to the battling qualities of his under-strength side.

Their best chance arrived when Allan Johnston played Naismith in on goal and although Craig Gordon saved his initial effort, the ball spun towards the Hearts net.

Robbie Neilson's challenge prevented Naismith from tapping into the empty net and the Scotland goalkeeper was able to gather the ball - although he was perilously close to carrying it over his own line.

The former Hearts manager preferred to concentrate on the fine point his team gained rather than focus on the possibility of the ball having crossed the line.

Jefferies said: "I thought they had one or two good chances out of mistakes that we made.

"Allan has created a couple of great chances, one being the one he set up for Naismith, who decided to take the ball onto his right foot rather than hit it with his left.

"In the last game against Aberdeen the result is gone (Aberdeen were leading 3-0) so he decides just to hit it with his left foot and he scores. Whereas today he thinks because it's 0-0 and it's crucial he takes more time with it and brings it onto his right.

"He made the wrong choice."

Illness and injury has taken its toll on the Kilmarnock squad, and Jefferies added: "When you see the team on paper it was okay but we knew one or two were under the weather so it is a good point.

"For Naismith's one that was bobbling around on the line we'd need to get the old video evidence out again!

"But even if it was over the line the referee didn't see it and it can't help us now."

Taken from sportinglife.com