Gary Mackay: Hearts squad must follow example of heroes like Kello

It's funny because I was talking to someone before the game and Jim Cruickshank's name came up in conversation.

He's one of the many great goalkeepers who have graced the Hearts jersey over the years and was one of the best I can recall. I'm not saying Marian Kello is in the same league as any of these guys, but I have to say that penalty save he made yesterday was up there with any of the best saves I've ever seen from a Hearts goalie. It was a soft award in my eyes, but the save from Kello, who had an excellent game, was nothing short of breathtaking.

I thought that moment might have invigorated Hearts and helped them go on and see the game out, but unfortunately it didn't happen. It was a sore one to take when we lost such a late goal.

We did well in the first half, but it never really looked like we could kill United off. About 15 minutes into the second half I felt the game was so stretched that there was going to be another goal - it was just a case of who was going to get it. Suso and Templeton were both tiring by the time they went off but in the first half they both did well and pushed the United full-backs back. However, I didn't think their replacements, Arvydas Novikovas and David Obua, offered enough when they came on. Novikovas, in particular, didn't cover back enough and neither of them pushed their full-back back enough and that allowed United to get more men forward. I think you have to give credit to the Arabs for sticking to their task, though, just a few days after a tough European game in Athens. Their goal was exceptional.

That's two home games we've been in front and we've not won either but with a win and two draws, the obvious positive is that they are still unbeaten going into the international break. That will give the players some confidence. We also have to remember that yesterday's team was without four key players - Ruben Palazuelos, Lee Wallace, Calum Elliot and Marius Zaliukas - that started against Hamilton. That's over a third of your team and is a big miss for any side, especially when they are such important players for Hearts.

From what I've seen of Kevin Kyle so far, he probably still has general fitness and match fitness to gain, but once he gets up to speed he will be an asset because he definitely offers us a presence in attack. In the first half in particular, Craig Thomson was putting in some quality deliveries.

If Thommo can continue providing service like that, then Kyle will revel in it. I thought Ryan Stevenson's workrate was outstanding yesterday, but when you've not got either of your natural strikers - Calum Elliot or Stephen Elliott - to play alongside Kyle, then you don't have the link-up you often get between two out-and-out forwards. For all that he worked incredibly hard, Stevenson wasn't really getting on the end of Kyle's flicks. Having witnessed Kyle's performance yesterday, it highlighted why the manager has been so keen to bring in an out-and-out attacking midfielder. Ian Black tried it a few times, but after seeing so many flick-ons from Kyle, you can see why we're crying out for someone who can burst from midfield, be difficult to pick up and be able to get on the end of the big man's numerous knock-downs.

It was a passionate and emotive game, which was typified by Gary Locke's annoyance at the penalty award. Lockey wasn't slow to tell the fourth official his thoughts about the decision and unfortunately he was removed from the dugout quite rapidly. It might result in him being hit in the pocket by the manager as he said he would be doing with players who get on the wrong side of officials, but that little episode just highlights how much passion there is in that dugout and you just hope that continues to manifest itself in the form of passionate performances from the players.