An accidental ‘assist’ for the opener and a stroke of good fortune for the clincher. Fair to say Jorge Grant was Hearts’ lucky number seven on Saturday as the Jambos finally got the better of their bogey side Kilmarnock.
In all honesty the Englishman – who afforded himself a laugh at his two goal involvements in a frenetic 3-2 victory – has been a bit of an omen for Neil Critchley’s side ever since being restored to the starting XI six games ago.
They’ve not lost any of those and are now serious contenders for the top six again. On Saturday you wouldn’t have blamed Grant if he’d dashed home from Tyncastle and bought a lottery ticket after the kind of afternoon where his two goal involvements were more to do with fluke than finesse.
But the midfielder, in the final months of his contract, will take them. As will Hearts who saw off a Kilmarnock side who had beaten them on both previous meetings this season – and who had lost only one of their last 11 visits to Gorgie.
Grant inadvertently helped lay on Elton Kabangu’s seventh minute opener. His shanked volley from James Wilson’s cross was heading out for a THROW when Wilson managed to divert it back into the danger area for Kabangu to net.
Killie levelled through Bobby Wales but Jamie McCart headed Hearts back in front before Grant himself nodded home his first goal of the season to make it 3-1. He knew little about it as he hauled himself back off the deck to challenge calamity keeper Kieran O’Hara in a goalmouth scramble – and turned almost in disbelief when the ball bounced off his head into the unguarded net.
Kilmarnock pulled another back through Fraser Murray to set up a fast and furious closing 20 minutes but Hearts held on. And Grant said: “When the gaffer came in, for the first 14 or 15 games I didn’t start one. I’ve started the last six and we haven’t lost so in that sense I feel like I’ve helped the team out as much as I can.
“It feels good to get off the mark. Blair Spittal put a cross in and I just tried to run in at the front post, missed it, I was on the deck, I saw the ball was in the air for ages so I just tried to get up and get in amongst the keeper and luckily got a nick on it. I was surprised to see it go in. I was laughing when I was running off to be fair.
“The assist? No, that was not meant! I was saying to James it was the best pass ever because nobody expected it! It just came over my shoulder and I’ve tried to go back across goal with it and I’ve just completely turned it the other way. It was lucky James was there because it was probably going out for a throw!”
Grant has had to wait for his opportunity to impress Critchley. After the Boxing Day derby defeat to Hibs, the 30-year-old was finally handed a start in the 2-2 draw at Ross County and has stayed there ever since, coinciding with the Jambos’ unbeaten run.
Luck wasn’t always on his side as his penalty kick was brilliantly saved by Aberdeen keeper Ross Doohan in the goalless draw at Pittodrie a fortnight ago. But the versatile former Peterborough man is happy with his performances as he waits to hear if he has a future in Gorgie beyond the summer.
Grant said: “I’ve had no discussions with the club about my situation. I’ll always concentrate on my football and try and help the team as much as possible. If the club want to talk about it, I’m always open to talk about it. I’ve played in different positions in those six games so it’s nice to be getting minutes.
“I’ve always been quite versatile. I’ve played every position in midfield – 10, 6, 8 and I’ve played left and right when I was younger so I feel like I can always affect the game wherever I am on the pitch. It’s one of those things where if the gaffer wants me to play there, that’s where I’ll play. I know I’m not some pacey winger who’s going to take people on all the time, I know my strengths and I’ll try and help the team from that position as much as I can.”
Critchley’s side are now just three points off the top six and Grant said: “It’s achievable. We had a poor start to the season but I feel like we’re starting to turn that corner now.
“It’s 10 points to third, three to the top six. We’re only looking forward.”