Kilmarnock left it late to snatch the last remaining UEFA Cup place of the season from under the noses of Hearts who, until the 78th minute of Kilmarnock's match against Celtic at Rugby Park, believed it was they were heading for Europe.

Alan Mahood's third goal of the season not only inflicted the Scottish champions' third defeat of the week, including to Manchester United in the midweek testimonial match for club captain Tom Boyd, it also rendered academic Hearts' 2-0 win over Dundee.

For Hearts to leapfrog Kilmarnock into the cherished fourth place, not only had they to win at home, they required their rivals to drop points against opposition preparing for next week's Tennent's Scottish Cup final and aiming to reach the 100-point mark in the Scottish Premier League.

Celtic opted for a largely inexperienced side, few of whom are likely to feature against Hibernian on Saturday. With no Henrik Larsson, Paul Lambert, Neil Lennon or Joos Valgaeren, there was a suggestion at fulltime that Hearts were contemplating a protest.

But Hearts manager Craig Levein said: "If I was in Martin O'Neill's shoes and had a Cup final to look forward to, I would be looking after my own team."

At Tynecastle, Hearts honoured their side of the bargain, going into the lead, against a Dundee side who started brightly but then faded, through Stephane Adam in the 52nd minute.

As the focus swung back and forth between Tynecastle and Rugby Park, Kilmarnock and former Rangers striker Ally McCoist was bidding farewell to senior football, his 49th-minute substitution bringing the curtain down on a 22-year career.

Colin Cameron made it 2-0 with a stunning volley on 70 minutes, but it was to no avail.