Two quickfire goals in the second half led to Kilmarnock climbing into the top six after a 2-1 away win at Hearts.
The hosts dominated much of the play in the first half and got their noses in front just before the break when a quickly taken throw-in ultimately led to Alan Forrest firing home at the back post.
But Killie are made of stern stuff and bounced back in fine fashion after the interval – with skipper Kyle Vassell at the heart of both goals.
He outmuscled Frankie Kent on 58 minutes as the defender failed to deal with a bouncing ball, with Matty Kennedy making the hosts pay with a fine finish into the far corner. Five minutes later Vassell produced a neat swivel and finish from close range for the decisive goal.
Killie gaffer Derek McInnes elected against making any unenforced changes from their weekend defeat at Ross County with only the suspended Liam Donnelly and injured Stuart Findlay making way for David Watson and Joe Wright.
Robby McCrorie was called into action early doors as the Killie stopper was at full stretch to get his fingertips on a fizzing Blair Spittal drive from the edge of the box as the hosts went searching for the opener.
The visitors took a while to grow into the game but almost got themselves in front on 18 minutes as a ball over the top saw Vassell beat Craig Gordon – only for Hearts centre-back Kye Rowles to produce a crucial goal-line clearance.
The hosts enjoyed plenty of the ball but created few clear cut chances against a stubborn Killie defence. They nearly shot themselves in the foot just before the half hour mark when a poor clearance from Danny Armstrong landed at the feet of Cammy Devlin. The Aussie midfielder elected for a pop at goal with a deflection wrong-footing McCrorie in the away goal who could only watch as the ball trickled wide.
Despite seeing little of the ball, Killie created the better chances with a well-worked corner just before the break seeing Armstrong’s first time strike from the edge of the box testing Gordon.
Hearts, though, would get their noses in front before the break from a passage of play that started with quick thinking from Shankland as the Scotland striker’s quick throw-in sent Kenneth Vargas down the right flank. His cut back found Spittal who in turn teed up Forrest at the back post to slam the ball high into the roof of the net for his second goal of the season.
The second half started in a similar fashion with Hearts controlling much of the ball – only for Killie to hit them with a quickfire double and turn the game on its head.
Vassell was at the centre of both goals as he outmuscled Kent as the defender looked to deal with a bouncing ball, which ultimately fell kindly for Kennedy to caress into the far corner for the equaliser.
The skipper turned from provider to finisher five minutes later as Killie made the hosts pay for more lacklustre defending. A throw-in wasn’t dealt with as Wright’s backheel was met by Vassell who held off Rowles, swivelled and fired beyond Gordon.
Hearts frantically searched for a way back into the game but created little. Substitute Jorge Grant was allowed far too much as he ran at the Killie defence but his effort was straight at McCrorie – who fumbled but collected the ball before any maroon jersey was able to capitalise.
As the hosts chucked everything at the Ayrshire men in the closing stages, Killie flung themselves in front of every effort on goal and defended resolutely to secure a vital three points.
Hearts: Gordon; Forrester (Oyegoke 63), Kent, Rowles, Penrice; Spittal (McKay 75), Boateng, Devlin (Wilson 75); Vargas (Grant 63), Forrest (Dhanda 84); Shankland. Subs not used: Clark, Kingsley, Halkett, Boyce.
Goals: Forrest (43)
Kilmarnock: McCrorie; Mayo, Wright (Burroughs 68), Deas, Ndaba; Armstrong (Murray 83), Watson, Lyons, Kennedy (Bainbridge 83); Vassell (Cameron 83), Watkins (McKenzie 77). Subs not used: O’Hara, Mackay-Steven, Anderson, Wales.
Goals: Kennedy (58), Vassell (63)