Image source, SNSHearts have won their last four games in the Premiership, their last longer winning streak was from 2 January 2024 to 17 February 2024, a run of six games.
Kilmarnock have failed to score in 13 of their 38 games, only Ross County (15) have failed to score more often in the Premiership this season.
Hearts have scored in each of their last four games in the Premiership, scoring nine goals in that run.
Ten-man Hearts clinched seventh place in the Scottish Premiership after Stephen Kingsley's late strike at Kilmarnock earned a fourth successive win under caretaker manager Liam Fox.
What did you make of that, Hearts fans? How do you feel about Liam Fox departing the club?
Was it a fitting end to the season?
Image source, SNSHearts interim head coach Liam Fox told BBC Scotland: "I'm thrilled for the players, staff, supporters. We understand it's been a disappointing season overall. I'm hoping those four wins on the bounce sends them away feeling a wee bit better.
"I actually asked the fourth official what was going on and he thought it was a Kilmarnock player they were looking at. When Yan received the red, there was confusion int he dugout. I've not seen it back.
"It was another thing thrown at us today. Zander Clark came off injured, Ryan Fulton was injured second half. The players deserve huge credit for finding a way to win in what wasn't a good game.
"I'm naturally disappointed to be leaving the football club, but I tell the players all the time you've got a choice of what you do off a disappointment.
"I can choose to be angry or upset, but I'm choosing to be thankful and positive about the opportunity and the learnings. This experience will make me a better coach, manager, and person."
Image source, SNSAll change at Tynecastle as well with McInnes' appointment expected in the coming day or two.
It's been a positive end to a campaign that was so frustrating for the most part but work will surely start right away.
Presumably first on the agenda is clarity on Shankland's future. The travelling support certainly embraced their captain when he was replaced.
No-one at Hearts is hiding from the fact that this season has been bitterly disappointing. There can be no repeat.
They will want to start the new campaign in complete contrast to how this one began with recruitment key.
Image source, SNSCammy Devlin. Slim pickings on an afternoon where it seemed most would rather be elsewhere, but the Aussie midfielder nicks it.
Still full of beans, he was the most energetic and influential of the Hearts midfield.
Scotland forward Lawrence Shankland, 29, wants his future decided quickly as he plans discussions with expected new Hearts manager Derek McInnes. (Record), external
McInnes' input will be a key factor in Shankland's decision. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external
Image source, SNSKilmarnock defender Robbie Deas is suspended while Kyle Magennis will not be risked after a knee injury. Brad Lyons (groin) and Joe Wright (hip) have a chance of featuring.
Hearts caretaker Liam Fox is set to choose from an unchanged squad.
Craig Gordon (shoulder), Jamie McCart (groin), Blair Spittal, Kenneth Vargas (knee), Gerald Taylor (knee) and Aidan Denholm (hamstring) are all likely to remain sidelined, while James Penrice could be left out again as he is one booking away from a two-match ban.
Incoming Hearts boss Derek McInnes wants to take Stuart Findlay with him from Kilmarnock, where the 29-year-old centre-half has spent two seasons on loan from Oxford United. (Daily Record), external
Astana have admitted defeat in their attempt to sign Kazakhstan winger Islam Chesnokov from Tobol, with sports director Kaisar Bekenov saying the 25-year-old is "very close" to a transfer to Hearts. (Scottish Sun), external
Derek McInnes will make securing Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland on a new deal his priority when the manager moves from Kilmarnock, with the Scotland striker out of contract this summer. (Daily Record), external
Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Image source, SNSHarry Milne hopes to put a "frustrating" start to his Hearts career behind him and show he can become a regular next season.
The 28-year-old, a January signing from Partick Thistle, made just his second Hearts appearance in the midweek win over St Johnstone when regular left-back James Penrice was rested.
Milne, hoping for another outing when Hearts end the season away to Kilmarnock on Sunday, said: "I was happy to get the game, especially here at Tynecastle, before summer so there's not as much of that unknown aspect with me in terms of the connection with the fans.
"The day-to-day, everything about the club, the facilities, the boys, the squad, the standard, from that aspect it's always been really good.
"But it has been really frustrating not being able to play as many games as I'd like.
"There's both sides of the coin - I'm happy to be here, of course, because it's a wonderful club and everything about it and the size of it, but I would like some more time on the pitch."
Milne believes he will benefit from the gentle bedding-in period when he looks to impress the new manager - Derek McInnes is set to be appointed - during the summer.
"It's been good that I've been able to come in at the end of January, rather than coming in summer, because I'm more familiar with everyone around the club," he added.
"Not just my team-mates but the staff and being able to move through to Edinburgh and things like that and get settled in. I feel settled now and I just want to kick on next season."
Image source, SNSAfter their 1-0 win in December, Kilmarnock could win back-to-back home games over Hearts in the top flight for the first time since March 2014.
Having won 3-2 in January, Hearts are looking to pick up back-to-back top-flight victories over Kilmarnock for the first time since April 2010 (run of 5).
Excluding the curtailed 2019-20 season, Kilmarnock have won on matchday 38 in four of their past five Scottish Premiership campaigns (D1) since a 2-1 defeat to Ross County in 2016-17.
Hearts haven't won their final match of a top-flight season in any of their past 18 attempts (D6 L12 – including curtailed 2019-20) since a 3-2 win over Motherwell in 2003-04.
Hearts have 49 points in the Scottish Premiership this season – a win in this match will mean they would have the most points by a bottom-six side in a campaign since St Johnstone in 2018-19 (52).
Manager Derek McInnes told Kilmarnock he would not be in the dugout for Sunday's final game of the season against Hearts before Wednesday's defeat by Motherwell. (Scottish Sun), external
Derek McInnes told Kilmarnock's players that he had managed them for the last time moments after their defeat by Motherwell on Wednesday night. (Daily Record), external
Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Watch Sportscene pundits Michael Stewart and Charlie Mulgrew discuss the managerial situation at Hearts.
We asked for your views on Hearts' 2-1 win against St Johnstone.
Here's what some of you said:
Alexander: Rotten performance against the worst team in the league. Looking forward to Derek McInnes coming in. It will be interesting to see if he's allowed to appoint his own coaches or has coaches loyal to Ann Budge and Craig Levein foisted on him like Daniel Stendel and Neil Critchley. Liam Fox being a very much Budge and Levein man!
Gordon: Sensible choice for the new manager, but this has come only after years of wasted millions and debacles, for example, the shambles of the main stand rebuild. There are deeper problems at Hearts, of governance and accountability, with the Foundation of Hearts a passive nodding dog. These problems need addressed. Perhaps Tony Bloom's investment may help shake the governance structure up and help restore natural order.
Chris: Beautiful weather, decent football, but months too late. What could have been. Harry Milne looked very good, and Lawrence Shankland is playing with a freedom he's been missing. Fox must have a part to play in any new set-up.
Ken: As usual, when you play a great player like Shankland in the right position, he scores, but he has more to his game. Can't believe supporters were giving him stick.
Peter: It is difficult to understand why we persisted so long with Shankland playing deeper. I think it was done to lift the pressure off him for a while, but although it showed he had other strengths, it undermined his self belief, essential to a successful striker. I was not for giving him a new contract, but now I hope we do. McInnes is a good move, but please do it properly and not with the farcical waiting for Budge to return from holiday and the prospect of our new manager leading Kilmarnock against us. Only Hearts could be so silly.
Watch highlights as Hearts win 2-1 against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.
Available to UK users only.
Hearts are in talks with Zemplin Michalovce winger Alexandros Kyziridis, with the 24-year-old Greek out of contract at the Slovakian club this summer. (Daily Record), external
Hearts have held talks with Zemplin Michalovce winger Alexandros Kyziridis and Kazakhstan winger Islam Chesnokov, currently with Tobol, but with Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes due to move to Tynecastle next week, any unsigned deals are likely to be on hold until he assesses the first-team squad. (Edinburgh Evening News), external
Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Image source, SNSAlan Forrest has scored in each of his last 3 games in the Premiership (3 goals), his longest scoring streak in the competition.
Lawrence Shankland has assisted 8 goals in the Premiership this season (1 in this game), more than any other Hearts player.
Hearts have won their last 3 games in the Premiership, their last longer winning streak was from 2nd January 2024 to 17th February 2024, a run of 6 games.
Graham Carey has scored his fourth goal in the Premiership this season, netting for the first time since 15th February 2025 against Kilmarnock.
Graham Carey has now scored 4 goals in 13 appearances in the Premiership against Hearts.
Image source, SNSIt's hard, once again, to look past the influence of Shankland, whose fingerprints were on both Hearts goals and looks utterly transformed since Liam Fox took interim charge and restored him to his preferred position.
Alan Forrest was lively down the right, and the two men enjoying rare starting opportunities, Harry Milne and Yan Dhanda, menaced in attack.
Hearts fans, were you at Tynecastle for the final home game of the season or following from home?
What did you make of your team's win, the players leaving, and the prospective arrival of Derek McInnes as manager?
Image source, SNSHearts interim head coach Liam Fox told BBC Scotland: "We're delighted with the win.
"It was a very hard-fought victory.
"First half, some of the football we played was really good. Second half we had to show a different side to the team, we had to really dig deep and defend and the players worked really hard.
"Overall, I'm really, really pleased."
