January signings Elton Kabangu and Jamie McCart both scored on their Tynecastle debuts as in-form Hearts eked out a 3-2 home win over Kilmarnock to climb from 11th to ninth in the Premiership.

On-loan Union Saint-Gilloise striker Kabangu gave the hosts a 1-0 interval lead with his third goal in two games, and defender McCart restored their advantage shortly after Killie’s Bobby Wales equalised early in the second half.

Jorge Grant’s header ultimately proved decisive, with Fraser Murray’s reply for the visitors ensuring a nervy finale for Neil Critchley’s resurgent side as they made it six games undefeated in all competitions.

Hearts made two changes to the side that started the Scottish Cup win at Brechin as Yan Dhanda and Kenneth Vargas were replaced by Blair Spittal and James Wilson. New signings Michael Steinwender and Sander Kartum were not included but captain Lawrence Shankland was listed as a sub after a five-game absence with a calf injury.

There were three changes to the Killie XI that started the Scottish Cup defeat by Celtic as goalkeeper Robby McCrorie, Liam Donnelly and Brad Lyons made way for Kieran O’Hara, Kyle Magennis and Calvin Ramsay, who was handed his debut after joining on loan from Liverpool.

Hearts made the breakthrough in the seventh minute when Wilson got away from Robbie Deas on the left and crossed to Grant. The midfielder got his volley all wrong and the ball flew back towards Wilson, who diverted it back into the danger area and Kabangu was perfectly placed to turned it home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Kabangu had a good chance to double his tally two minutes later when he was released in the box by a pass from Grant, but the Belgian opted to check inside when he appeared to have a clear run at goal.

The hosts suffered a blow in the 11th minute when Craig Halkett, who has been plagued by fitness problems in recent seasons, hobbled off after stretching to cut out a cross. The centre-back was replaced by Lewis Neilson, on for his first appearance for the Jambos in almost two years after being recalled recently from a loan stint at St Johnstone.

Teenager Wilson had two good opportunities inside the box either side of an excellent save from Hearts keeper Craig Gordon to keep out a Wales header. McCart then had a header ruled out for offside in the 34th minute.

Killie boss Derek McInnes replaced debutant Ramsay with Danny Armstrong for the start of the second half.

The visitors drew level within five minutes of the restart when Lewis Mayo stepped out of defence and clipped the ball down the right for Marley Watkins, whose low cross was volleyed home at the near post by Wales.

Hearts restored their lead in the 58th minute when McCart powered home a close-range header from James Penrice’s corner.

And the hosts looked to be in full control three minutes later when keeper O’Hara misjudged the flight of a looping clearance from Deas as it dropped back down on the edge of the six-yard box and Grant, who stood his ground, nodded it backwards into the net.

But Killie pulled one back in the 67th minute when Armstrong’s cross from the right was headed home at the back post by Murray.

Hearts sub Musa Drammeh spurned three big chances to put the game beyond the visitors, while Gordon made an excellent save to deny David Watson an equaliser in the 86th minute.

What the managers said…

Hearts boss Neil Critchley: “I didn’t think we were great. We’ve played better recently and I think we played better when we lost here to Kilmarnock (in October).

“We scored three goals, conceded two poor goals which has been unlike us in recent games. That was us six weeks ago (losing goals), so that’s something to keep working on.

“We had chances to finish the game off near the end and at 3-2 they could put the ball in the box and cause chaos.

Other than Craig Gordon having to make a save, we showed a bit of assurance in seeing it out.”

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: “Normally if you come here and score two, you win or get something. Three mistakes in the game, the second and third we should be doing better.

“The first goal was a mistake from the VAR. How they don’t give offside is unbelievable. I’m not criticising (refereee) John Beaton or the linesman. The ball is in open play and Kabangu is a yard offside (when Craig Gordon kicks it long), then impedes Joe Wright.

“I don’t know how that can’t be taken back by VAR, and how that isn’t a foul and offside. That’s what VAR is there for and what we pay the money for. It’s ridiculous how that goal stood.

“We needed to play better and I thought we played the majority of the second half in their half but we give a corner needlessly because we don’t pick up, then the third goal was a mistake where the goalie has to do better. The game gets taken away from us.”

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