ROBBIE NEILSON, the Hearts manager, revealed that a little expert advice on Kilmarnock goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald permitted Jamie Walker to score the first-half goal that has put the Tynecastle club on the brink of securing a return to European football on their first season back in the Premiership.

Neilson played with MacDonald at Tynecastle and had spoken specifically to his players before the match about the need to be alert should any penalties be awarded because of his former team-mate’s shotstopping ability.

Sure enough, MacDonald went on to save two spot-kicks over the course of this most intriguing encounter. With the second, 10 minutes from time, he denied Abiola Dauda before blocking Sam Nicholson’s attempt from the loose ball.

However, Walker had been sharp enough to move onto the rebound from his penalty on seven minutes and force it into the net with a somewhat messy finish to put his side 11 points clear of fourth-placed St Johnstone with a game in hand.

“I had spoken to the players before the game about getting in for the second ball if we got penalties because shotstopping is Jamie’s forte,” said Neilson. “It was important to get a result.”

Rather than looking to consolidate third place and the Europa League spot that will come with it, though, Neilson has set his sights on overtaking Aberdeen.

“There is no point in looking downwards,” he remarked. “If we aim up the way and aim for Aberdeen, we’ll stay away from fourth place.”

Hearts, although hanging on a little towards the end, deserved the victory. They were the better team over the piece and enjoyed the better chances, but Kilmarnock were always in the contest and must wonder how different things may have been had Craig Slater converted a glorious opportunity just a minute into the game.

A ball in from the right from Lee Hodson broke off Tope Obadeyi into the midfielder’s path around 12 yards from goal, but, with a clear view of the target, he put his effort well wide of the post.

It wasn’t long before Walker would rub salt into his wounds. A long pass from defence from home captain Alim Ozturk gave Prince Buaben something to chase on the right-hand side. As he entered the area, Stuart Findlay raised an arm to prevent him from moving onto the ball and referee Don Robertson appeared to get it right in pointing to the penalty spot.

Findlay was shown a yellow card rather than a red for the infringement and that also appeared a sound call considering there was doubt over whether or not a genuine goalscoring opportunity had been denied.

Jamie Walker’s effort from the 12-yard mark was saved by Jamie MacDonald, but he got himself onto the rebound and watched with some considerable relief as his fluffed effort looped high into the air and landed over the goal-line with the visiting goalkeeper unable to recover in time.

Kilmarnock came close to levelling a little before the half-hour when Josh Magennis forced a good save from Neil Alexander with a low, angled drive. From the resultant corner, Conrad Balatoni saw a header cleared off the line by Callum Paterson.

MacDonald denied Walker, Ozturk and Sam Nicholson as Hearts enjoyed a strong period towards the end of the first half and was fortunate to escape in the opening stages of the second 45 when Nicholson hit the inside of the post with a crisp header from a searching cross from Paterson.

Magennis did see one effort at the other end go just wide before conceding a penalty with 10 minutes remaining, having his arms raised way too high and handling an Igor Rossi header from a Walker corner inside the box.

Abiola Dauda stepped up to take this time around, being denied by an excellent one-handed save from MacDonald low to his left.

Killie always looked capable of snatching something right until the end, Obadeyi having an effort from close-range blocked after moving onto a hopeful effort from Julien Faubert, handed a debut when replacing Mark O’Hara after 29 minutes.

Fielded at right midfield, the one-time Real Madrid player did not have a huge influence on the match, but he will need time to work on his fitness before a proper judgement can be made.

“I thought he did a lot of good things and looked a class act,” said Lee Clark, the Kilmarnock manager. “He is probably only about 60 or 65 per cent match fit.

“We’re frustrated with how we conceded the first penalty. It is a penalty, but we didn’t have to commit the foul.”