MacDonald the Killie hero with late penalty save

Jamie MacDonald saved Kyle Lafferty’s stoppagetime penalty to deny his former club Hearts victory over Kilmarnock last night.

Eamonn Brophy had given Kilmarnock an early lead before former Rugby Park forward Steven Naismith netted his first goal for Hearts in the 27th minute and ultimately earned his side a 1-1 draw.

Jon McLaughlin made a brilliant last-minute stop to deny Jordan Jones before Hearts went up the field and won a penalty when Youssouf Mulumbu tripped Lafferty as he ran into the box.

But MacDonald got down to his left to hold Lafferty’s spot-kick before making another save from the same player.

The result kept Hearts two points above Killie in fifth place in the Ladbrokes Premiership, with the visitors extending their lead over Motherwell to two points with a game in hand.

Hearts were caught out by Mulumbu’s up-and-under inside three minutes.

Berra got his head to the ball but not enough power to get it back to McLaughlin, and Brophy showed good strength to hold off the Scotland defender and fire underneath the advancing goalkeeper.

Hearts had to wait 25 minutes for their first sight of goal when MacDonald saved Lafferty’s long-range strike and Brophy came closer moments later after running on to Allan Power’s through-ball in the right channel. McLaughlin managed to divert his powerful strike off target.

Hearts were soon level. Killie right-back Stephen O’Donnell appeared to slip before David Milinkovic’s cross bounced behind him and Naismith stooped to head into the near corner.

The start of the second half proved less eventful, not helped by a heavier flurry of snow which started to affect the run of the ball along the grass.

Naismith missed the best chance of a period of dominance for Hearts when he sent a free header wide after getting on the end of Don Cowie’s free-kick.

McLaughlin made three saves from substitute Lee Erwin before getting his fingertip to Jones’ header following a McKenzie cross, before the Hearts keeper was upstaged by his opposite number.

Hearts: McLaughlin, Randall, Hughes, Berra, Mitchell (Michael Smith 81), Cowie (Callachan 89), Cochrane, Adao, Milinkovic (Amankwaa76), Naismith, Lafferty. Subs not used: Irving, Hamilton, Godinho, Henderson.

Kilmarnock: MacDonald, O’Donnell, Broadfoot, Greer (Findlay 53), Taylor, McKenzie, Power, Mulumbu, Jones, Brophy (Erwin 57), Tshibola (Wilson 90). Subs not used: Fasan, Simpson, Dicker, Kiltie. Attendance: 15,862 Referee: Don Robertson,

Kyle Lafferty misses a late penalty for Hearts.