Kilmarnock secured a 3-0 triumph at Hearts to halt their four-game losing streak.
Two goals in final 10 minutes give Killie much needed win
Kilmarnock conjured up two goals in the final 10 minutes to bring a shuddering halt to their four-game losing streak.
Frazer Wright opened the scoring in first-half injury time before Conor Ammon and Alexei Eremenko delivered the knockout blows to secure a 3-0 win at Hearts.
The triumph was enough to see Kilmarnock climb off the foot of the table with only their third league win of the season.
The result was particularly unpleasant for former Killie boss Jim Jefferies - who now manages the home side - and former striker Kevin Kyle, who lined up for Hearts.
Negative
The day began once more with more negative headlines for Scottish officials with Steven Craven, the assistant referee who resigned following the controversial October 17 clash between Dundee United and Celtic, speaking to a Sunday newspaper.
Dougie McDonald, the referee at the centre of the Tannadice row, was today's fourth official two days after being given a warning by the Scottish Football Association's refereeing committee.
But McDonald avoided further controversy today as Killie confounded the doubters with a strong display away from home.
Killie had a glorious opportunity when Eremenko's lofted pass was hit first time by Liam Kelly.
Kelly's effort was wide, but he may have done better had he taken a touch first to control the ball.
After seven minutes, Hearts goalkeeper Marian Kello was at full stretch to deny Mehdi Taouil, who had cut inside from the left and hit a fierce right-foot shot.
Manuel Pascali was then booked for a rash challenge on Suso Santana as Hearts launched a counter attack from the resulting corner.
Kyle, Rudi Skacel and Ruben Palazuelos combined soon after, with the latter firing wide from the left edge of the area.
Referee Stevie O'Reilly booked Eremenko for diving on the edge of the penalty area before Killie broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time.
Jamie Hamill was the architect of the goal as his pinpoint free-kick found Wright unmarked in the area to head the ball home.
Jefferies was keen to find an immediate route back into the game and introduced Stephen Elliott and Craig Thomson.
Rudi Skacel shot straight at Killie goalkeeper Cameron Bell from 20 yards before the hosts' penalty appeals for handball were turned down after Santana's cross struck Ben Gordon.
Adrian Mrowiec's shot from 25 yards had Bell scrambling to re-gather after making the initial save but Hearts continued to lack fluency in the final third.
Elliott's snap-shot rippled the top of the net after going over the bar, Santana shot straight at Bell before Jefferies used his third substitute with 28 minutes remaining.
David Templeton, a replacement for Mrowiec, had an immediate impact, but Santana could only fire his team-mate's cross from the left over.
Thomson's cross then was too high for Elliott and Kyle challenged Bell, but could not connect with the ball.
There was no foul, but Bell - continually now taking his time over every goal kick - required treatment and the referee was forced to call for a drop ball.
Kyle was booked soon after a foul on the edge of the Killie area as Hearts were becoming increasingly frustrated, with Santana booked for dissent.
Templeton fired wide after cutting in off the left wing and Kello turned an Eremenko effort around the post for a corner.
Knockout
However, it was in the final 10 minutes of the game when the real knockout blows were delivered to reward Killie's attacking brio.
Hammill was again the creator as his searching pass was galloped onto by Sammon, who managed to get around the Hearts the defence before applying a cool finish.
With Hearts still reeling from conceding in the 80th minute, Killie sought to capitalize further.
Hearts failed to deal with a long ball forward and were cruelly punished as Eremenko curled a sumptuous shot into the top corner just two minutes later to rubber-stamp the win.
