January signings Elton Kabangu and Jamie McCart both scored on their Tynecastle debuts as on-form Hearts eked out a 3-2 home win over Kilmarnock to climb from 11th to ninth in the William Hill Premiership.
On-loan Union Saint-Gilloise striker Kabangu gave the hosts a 1-0 interval lead with his third goal in two games, and defender McCart restored their advantage shortly after Killie’s Bobby Wales equalised early in the second half.
Jorge Grant’s header ultimately proved decisive, with Fraser Murray’s reply for the visitors ensuring a nervy finale for Neil Critchley’s resurgent side as they made it six games undefeated in all competitions.
Hearts made two changes to the side that started the Scottish Cup win at Brechin as Yan Dhanda and Kenneth Vargas were replaced by Blair Spittal and James Wilson. New signings Michael Steinwender and Sander Kartum were not included but captain Lawrence Shankland was listed as a sub after a five-game absence with a calf injury.
There were three changes to the Killie XI that started the Scottish Cup defeat by Celtic as goalkeeper Robby McCrorie, Liam Donnelly and Brad Lyons made way for Kieran O’Hara, Kyle Magennis and Calvin Ramsay, who was handed his debut after joining on loan from Liverpool.
Hearts made the breakthrough in the seventh minute when Wilson got away from Robbie Deas on the left and crossed to Grant. The midfielder got his volley all wrong and the ball flew back towards Wilson, who diverted it back into the danger area and Kabangu was perfectly placed to turned it home from the edge of the six-yard box.
Kabangu had a good chance to double his tally two minutes later when he was released in the box by a pass from Grant, but the Belgian opted to check inside when he appeared to have a clear run at goal.
The hosts suffered a blow in the 11th minute when Craig Halkett, who has been plagued by fitness problems in recent seasons, hobbled off after stretching to cut out a cross. The centre-back was replaced by Lewis Neilson, on for his first appearance for the Jambos in almost two years after being recalled recently from a loan stint at St Johnstone.
Teenager Wilson had two good opportunities inside the box either side of an excellent save from Hearts keeper Craig Gordon to keep out a Wales header. McCart then had a header ruled out for offside in the 34th minute.
Killie boss Derek McInnes replaced debutant Ramsay with Danny Armstrong for the start of the second half.
The visitors drew level within five minutes of the restart when Lewis Mayo stepped out of defence and clipped the ball down the right for Marley Watkins, whose low cross was volleyed home at the near post by Wales.
Hearts restored their lead in the 58th minute when McCart powered home a close-range header from James Penrice’s corner.
And the hosts looked to be in full control three minutes later when keeper O’Hara misjudged the flight of a looping clearance from Deas as it dropped back down on the edge of the six-yard box and Grant, who stood his ground, nodded it backwards into the net.
But Killie pulled one back in the 67th minute when Armstrong’s cross from the right was headed home at the back post by Murray.
Hearts sub Musa Drammeh spurned three big chances to put the game beyond the visitors, while Gordon made an excellent save to deny David Watson an equaliser in the 86th minute.
