Tynecastle old boy Balatoni pops up to leave Hearts hurting
CONRAD BALATONI grew up supporting Hearts and began his senior career at Tynecastle but the defender’s return to his alma mater — along with former pupils Gary Locke, Jamie Hamill, Kevin McHattie and Jamie MacDonald — saw him disappoint the fans he used to sit beside.
The Kilmarnock defender was guilty of the needless challenge which saw Hearts take the lead from the penalty spot — but atoned for that with an unlikely equaliser.
‘After giving away the penalty, it’s nice to redeem yourself and I’ve managed to pop up with the goal that has earned us a draw,’ said the ex-Partick Thistle man.
‘Not many teams will come here and take anything, so we are pretty pleased with the outcome.
‘I enjoyed the moment as it was my first goal for Kilmarnock, but I am a Hearts fan and this is where I started my career, though I did not play for the first team.
‘It was nice to come back and get that goal. Sheer commitment and desire got us a point.’
MacDonald was the first goalkeeper to be called into action, pushing Juanma’s rising drive from 15 yards over the bar.
The Spanish striker made it a long afternoon for himself when he was cautioned for dissent shortly afterwards as referee John Beaton gave the latest in a series of contentious decisions against the home side.
Sam Nicholson ought to have given the hosts the lead in the 24th minute but, after being sent clear by Osman Sow, he elected to square the ball for Juanma, who was marked, rather than to shoot himself and the chance was lost.
However, it required a goal-line clearance from Blazej Augustyn to deny Greg Kiltie the opener after Neil Alexander had scuffed a clearance straight to the forward.
Galvanised by that reprieve, Hearts raced to the other end and took the lead. Balatoni brought down Sow right in front of referee Beaton, who pointed to the spot.
Jamie Walker converted the penalty, lashing the ball into the roof of the net for his third goal of the season.
MacDonald saved his side again on the stroke of half-time, diving to turn a dipping volley from Nicholson behind for a corner.
Mr Beaton enraged the home side once again in the 48th minute when he harshly penalised Sow, who had dispossessed the dawdling Mark O’Hara to leave himself a clear run on goal.
Killie continued to chip away, though, and Stuart Findlay should have hit the target with a free header from a McHattie corner.
The visitors capitalised on some slack defending to draw level 11 minutes from time. Hearts failed to deal with another McHattie corner and when O’Hara launched the ball back into the box, it fell kindly for Balatoni to drive home from 12 yards.
Kilmarnock might have snatched all three points but substitute Kris Boyd headed a McHattie cross straight at Alexander.
There was still time for Steven Smith to be cautioned for a foul on Gavin Reilly and for the latter to be sent off for aiming a kick at his assailant. Even then, Mr Beaton needed to have the latter offence brought to his attention by his assistant Graham Chambers.
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson, though, chose to blame his players rather than the officials for the squandered points.
‘It wasn’t the referee who missed six good chances today — we did that,’ he said.
‘It was nothing to do with him today. It was about us and our performance in front of goal.’