Kilmarnock substitute Bruce Anderson scored a 90th-minute equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw at Tynecastle as struggling Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts endured a fourth consecutive match without victory.
Lawrence Shankland’s strike early in the second half looked like it would be decisive for the Jambos until Anderson forced the ball home from close range, leaving the home support shell-shocked.
The draw allowed Celtic, who trailed by nine points in early November, to move level on points with Derek McInnes’ side ahead of Sunday’s top-of-the-table meeting at Parkhead.
Hearts paid tribute before kick-off to chairwoman Ann Budge, who is stepping down after 11-and-a-half years. McInnes made five changes from the goalless draw at Motherwell, handing Christian Borchgrevink and Alan Forrest their first starts since August. Kilmarnock boss Stuart Kettlewell made four changes to the side that drew with Dundee United, with Tyreece John-Jules starting for the first time since arriving in October.
After a bright start from Hearts, their first clear chance came in the 15th minute when Shankland’s attempted chip was gathered by Kilmarnock goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi after good work by Cammy Devlin and Landry Kabore. Killie threatened in the 28th minute when Brad Lyons fired a 25-yard effort just over.
Hearts struggled to turn possession into chances, though they went close after half an hour when Kabore almost turned a Borchgrevink delivery over the line. Kilmarnock had the best chance of the first half when James Brown somehow volleyed wide from six yards after Greg Kiltie’s shot was parried by Hearts keeper Alexander Schwolow.
The breakthrough came four minutes after the interval when Kabore dummied a pass from Tomas Magnusson and Shankland ran clear to dink a finish beyond Oluwayemi from just inside the box. Shankland then threatened with a header and Magnusson headed Harry Milne’s corner against the post. Kabore and Shankland sent further efforts wide as Hearts sought to extend their lead.
Killie nearly equalised in the 74th minute when substitute Marcus Dackers glanced a header against the crossbar from a Kiltie cross. David Watson then flashed a shot just wide as tension grew among the home fans. Hearts had chances to seal the win, with substitutes Claudio Braga and Blair Spittal coming close.
Hearts were stunned in stoppage time when Anderson pounced to convert a loose ball after Schwolow allowed a Liam Polworth strike to squirm from his grasp, earning Kilmarnock a late point.