For the first time in a league match this season, there were no redeeming features in Heart of Midlothian's performance.
There have been games in which the team have been poor but managed to win or to take something. Defeats at Aberdeen and Easter Road could, and maybe should, have turned out differently given the chances created. At Ibrox a few weeks ago, they gave as good as they got in the first half.
An argument can be made that the recent defeat at St Mirren is on a par with Saturday's defeat, but even that had mitigating circumstances: a first-half red card for Craig Halkett. Who knows how that match turns out if Hearts keep 11 men on the pitch, regardless of how poorly they started.
They had already won two matches after being reduced to 10 men before half-time this calendar year. That night in Paisley was asking a bit much for them to do it yet again.
On Saturday night against Kilmarnock few, if any, players got pass marks. Hearts started with the same team that defeated Aberdeen, which made sense after that performance two weeks ago.
But with too many players not at it, they never fully settled into the game and deservedly lost.
Craig Cairns looks back on Hearts’ 1-0 defeat at Rugby Park.
The first half
The tone was set from kick-off: Hearts played the ball back to Marc Leonard and his pass forward was intercepted. Kilmarnock almost instantly played a ball over the top.
While it led to nothing, it was a sign of how Neil McCann’s side wanted to approach the game.
After losing their previous match 5-1 to Falkirk, Kilmarnock had two weeks to come up with another game plan. McCann had mostly used a diamond during their uptick in results and performances since taking over, but moved away from that for the visit of Hearts.
They looked to go direct against Hearts’ high defensive line, constantly turning the defenders and putting them into uncomfortable situations. Summed up by an attack in the 11th minute.
When the home side did try to pass out from the back, Hearts did a good job of winning the ball, mainly through Tomas Magnusson, before breaking. Unfortunately, the Icelandic midfielder was taken off in the first half after a nasty clash of heads.
Killie set up in a 4-2-3-1, with McCann likely not wanting to have his midfield as narrow as in previous weeks, especially against a side that likes to get the ball wide and put crosses into the box.
In the shape, David Watson played on the right and did a good job of nullifying one of Hearts’ biggest threats in Harry Milne, who, though not alone, had a poor night.
As they did against Aberdeen, Hearts started in a lopsided 4-4-2 with Milne pushing on and Blair Spittal tucking in. However, with Kilmarnock dominating the midfield and Milne struggling to get forward, McInnes moved Blair Spittal inside and Claudio Braga to the left.
That is when Hearts had their best spell attacking-wise. Braga dribbled past Jamie Brandon several times and, on another occasion, collected the ball on the inside left channel to force a good save out of Kelle Roos. Magnusson then won the ball in the Killie half and drove on but shot wide.
But it was short-lived in a poor first-half performance and it was no surprise that a substitution was made at the break and that the ineffectual Landry Kabore did not reappear for the second half.
The goal
It was the first goal Hearts have conceded since Ibrox and just like the key goal in that game, it stemmed from a Hearts attack and a poor pass that would have sent Hearts on a promising attack.
Alexandros Kyziridis, after a quiet start, was getting into the game more and had a great chance for a switch of play. His pass wasn’t just off, it was wayward.
The ball is in the net within 50 seconds of that misplaced pass. A lot happens in that time that could prevent the goal, but the winger then fails to track goalscorer Michael Schjonning-Larsen.
And while he is Kyziridis’ man, Steinwender should sense the danger and realise that his man Curtis isn’t an immediate threat and take responsibility.
Either way, there doesn’t appear to be much communication between them. On the other side, Milne has to do more to stop the cross.
The second half
The change at half-time made sense. Braga had given Brandon the runaround for parts of the first half but is more effective through the middle. You would also back Kyziridis, who moved to the left, to keep the pressure on the Kilmarnock left-back.
Putting on another attacker in Islam Chesnokov also made sense, meaning Hearts now had two natural wide men.
But once again, not enough players stepped up with a performance. Oisin McEntee was less of a threat than Magnusson, who he replaced, and Blair Spittal was another who struggled, allowing Kilmarnock’s midfield three to dominate the centre of the park.
One of the few positives for Hearts was the introduction of Jordi Altena who may have played his way into contention for a start against Dundee this coming Saturday.
The Dutchman progressed the ball a few times, be it through his passing or dribbling, in a way that Steinwender isn’t able to.
It came at a point when Kilmarnock were attacking with less frequency and looking to see the game out, which they did well.
Hearts still created a couple of chances and, late in the game, Milne had a great opportunity to cut it back for the unmarked Braga. He elected to hit the byline and fire it across goal and it was easily dealt with by the Killie rearguard.
Conclusion
In short, too many Hearts players weren’t good enough and Kilmarnock got their game plan spot on. It was a night of few positives for McInnes and his men; poorer than any other performance this season.
Even good teams have off days: champions Celtic lost to St Johnstone around this time last year, before the Saints were relegated. Thankfully, days like that have been few and far between for this Hearts side.
Some will argue with the team selection, but it was the same 11 players who performed well in the previous outing and it's easy to say with hindsight.
Though if Hearts are looking to take games to the opposition more, Altena has made the case that he should be the right-back with recent appearances from the bench here and at home to Hibernian.
Hearts have largely done well to compensate for the loss of key players like Lawrence Shankland, Cammy Devlin and, more recently, Stuart Findlay, but it has been clear, even in victory, that they have been missed. Saturday night was the starkest example of their absence.
However, Hearts started the season with a big squad, added to it in January and will expect better from their players, whoever is available, this weekend at home to Dundee.
