Hearts form slump continued when they were held to a draw by struggling Kilmarnock, a result which saw champions Celtic draw level with the Capital combine at the top of the 12-strong table.
Bruce Anderson did the damage, slotting home after a fumble by German goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow let the ball slip from his grasp following a low shot from outside the box and the Killie player was razor-sharp in his response.
Killie fans behind the goal celebrated wildly before VAR was called in but the goal stood and Hearts were left to rue what might have been and look back on a poor recent record with only one win in five games.
Earlier, and before kick-off, there was a minute of applause to remember Gary Kirk who served the club for 17 years across two spells.
As to team selection, Hearts boss Derek McInnes sprang a surprise by naming Alan Forrest in the line-up. He also started with Christian Borchgrevink and Tomas Magnusson.
The home side were into their stride in the first minute, forcing Deas to bring down Kabore and the Killie man earned a yellow card. The free-kick was sent low into the box towards Shankland (pictured) by Kyziridis but it was easily cleared.
Kabore made another run down the right and he was found by Devlin. The Burkina Faso international laid the ball back to Shankland but his shot was blocked by Oluwayemi.
Devlin then found himself in good space on the edge of the box, again on the right side, but his ball towards Shankland was poor and it was picked off by the Killie defence.
At the other end, Lyons had a sight of goal about 20 yards out but his effort flew over without troubling the Hearts goalkeeper.
When the home side broke, several balls were wasted but Kyziridis then fizzed one from the left to the right. The ball was sent back into the box and towards the Killie goal by Borchgrevink but Kabore failed to make contact when in a great position.
Magnusson then latched onto a ball on the left side and sent it towards goal, but Killie were able to scramble it clear despite Kyziridis and Forrest lurking nearby.
Kyziridis kept up the pressure by sending a back heel towards Milne unmarked in the box. He made several steps forward and sent the ball into the danger area but, again, it was cleared and Killie broke. Their move was ended when Schwolow saved low from John-Jules who shot from just outside the box.
Hearts, however, had a lucky escape when Brown was unable to take advantage of sloppy defence, sending his shot just wide at the Gorgie end.
That was a wake-up call for the home side but Hearts countered. Shankland tried to tee-up Kabore but the Killie defence stood firm.
Hearts continued to move forward and Milne then sent Kyzaridis away on the left and he won a corner which he took himself only to send it well over the head of the Hearts players waiting in the box.
That proved to be the final threat of a disappointing half for the Men in Maroon who dominated possession without really opening up the Ayrshire side’s defence.
McInnes resisted the temptation to re-shuffle his side at the break and it was Killie who forced Kent to send the ball for a corner on the right when play resumed. Milne nodded clear.
Minutes later Shankland broke through. Magnusson started the move, sending the ball towards Kabore who guided it to the Scotland striker, and he outran the Killie rearguard to delivered clinically, the ball bulging the net for the opener. Time 48 minutes.
It was a welcome strike for the Jambos and Kabore was the centre of attention minutes later, driving into the Killie defence but he lost the ball when he got to the edge of the box. Shankland then had a sniff at the near post following a pacey cross from the left by Milne but the Killie defence cleaned up.
Devlin won the ball near the Hearts box and fed Shankland but, once again, the promising move petered out. Shankland then fed Kabore but he was blocked by blue and white shirts as Hearts kept up the pressure.
They won a corner and Milne’s kick was nodded against the far upright by Magnusson. The ball was cleared but the Jambos won another soon after and Brown cleared Kyziridis’ corner.
Forrest won another, again it was cleared, and Killie introduced Watson for Thompson. Another home corner came when Forrest sent the ball into the six-yard area and Kabore spun only to see it bundled away.
It was all Hearts now and McInnes withdrew Forrest and Kabore for Braga and Spittal. Magnusson then received treatment before carrying on before Killie made three changes. Shankland then sent an effort wide before Killie made another substitution.
It was not all Hearts as Killie battled to get a foothold. Magnusson was shown a yellow card for a foul on Dackers as desperate Killie broke clear and the lanky striker sent a powerful header of the bar with Schwolow beaten. A signal that the lead was narrow and the visitors could cause damage.
The Jambos broke upfield, however, and Braga darted into the box before sending a back flick to Spittal. His shot was deflected over. The play swung to the other end and Lyons shot wildly over from the edge of the Hearts’ penalty box. A chance wasted.
McEntee was prepared with 11 minutes left. Borchgrevink made way. Another change came for Killie as manager Stuart Kettlewell as he attempted to get back into the game, but it was Braga who had a snap, right-foot shot which the Killie goalkeeper grabbed low.
At the other end, Devlin was sloppy in returning a throw in and the ball was fed into the box. A scramble ensured and Schwolow had to get down quickly to block a head flick.
Seconds later there was real joy for the visitors when a long-range shot was fumbled by the goalkeeper and Anderson nipped in to net. VAR was called in for a possible offside and, after a lengthy delay, the goal was given. A massive blow to the Jambos.
Killie powered forward looking for a win and Magnusson had to send the ball out for a throw in. Then Hearts suffered another scare before, at the other end, the home side claimed for a handball from Thompson. It was waved away before Killie’s Brown was booked for a challenge on Braga.
The boos rang out at Tynecastle as John Beaton brought the game to an end with Hearts still top on 32 points but with Celtic level having played a game less.
