Kilmarnock assistant Jimmy Nicholl was disappointed after Suso Santana's injury-time header earned Hearts a share of the spoils at Rugby Park.

Paul Heffernan bundled home 10 minutes from time to put Kilmarnock seemingly on course for three points, but substitute Santana rose to meet Paul McGowan's cross in the dying stages of the game to ensure a share of the points.

Both sides finished the game with 10 men after Dieter van Tornhout and Jamie Hamill were ordered off during the second half.

"I am really disappointed as the game didn't look like it was going anywhere and there were very few chances," said Nicholl.

"The sending-off turned the game for us, we got a grip of the ball and the commitment and concentration levels got higher.

"When Jamie Hamill was sent off I thought that would be the game for us but we lost a silly goal from a simple cross, I thought we were going to hang on but that didn't happen."

There was controversy as Hearts manager Paulo Sergio refused to shake the hand of his counterpart Kenny Shiels before the game.

Nicholl admits he was not surprised at the reaction of either man, following some heated exchanges in the media prior to the match.

"I expected it, we know what Kenny is like and the media love him, he comes out and says what he thinks," Nicholls said.

"I come in on a Monday morning and Kenny says, 'Jimmy I have opened my mouth again'.

"It's up for Paulo to decide whether to shake his hand, he has his principles and so does Kenny."

Sergio felt his side deserved more than a draw, despite their injury-time leveller.

The former Sporting boss praised the commitment of his team but admitted they lacked an edge in front of goal.

"The players showed real character to come back and get the draw," said Sergio.

"After the first 25 minutes we controlled the game and just lacked a freshness in the final third of the pitch.

"The point was more than deserved as I felt we were the only team on the pitch for most of the game. Kilmarnock were efficient from set-pieces and got their goal but I felt we deserved more than a point."

Sergio explained his reasons for refusing to shake hands with home boss Shiels prior to the match, accusing the Kilmarnock boss of lacking respect.

"After what he has said about me, not just this week either, it was the fifth or sixth time. This time it was so low I don't have words to describe it," added Sergio.

"It was time to give him an answer as he is doing it with everybody not just me, you should respect people.

"I didn't come here to get involved in things like this, I don't want to shake the hand of the person that is saying what he is saying about me. The second time he tried to shake my hand was to provoke me and to get a reaction from the crowd."