Hearts lose midfield battle as Bett props up the defence

JAMES TRAYNOR

7 Nov 1994

JIM Bett remains a player of some considerable style.

He has poise, vision, and an exquisite touch, but Ronald Koeman he isn't.

The former Scotland, Rangers, and Aberdeen player, who has recently been adding a touch of quality to Hearts' midfield, was used as a free man at the back against Motherwell on Saturday, and while Bett had an excellent game, his influence on the match was reduced considerably.

Perhaps as a consequence, Motherwell dominated the midfield area and were worthy winners.

It was a victory which keeps them in touch with the leaders, Rangers, and entitles them to believe themselves to be genuine contenders.

The manner in which they overcame the loss of a controversial goal at a time when they were threatening to stretch their lead over Hearts was impressive, even if they were fortunate that the half-time break allowed them time to cool down.

0 Stephen Frail sent the ball into Motherwell's box in 40 minutes and John Robertson appeared to touch the ball before it struck defender John Philliben's head and rocketed into the net.

The striker, looking rather sheepish, was mobbed by his team-mates, while the opposition pursued referee Alan Freeland, complaining bitterly that Robertson had used a hand and not his head.

They were given no solace by the official, who quite clearly had made a serious error in what was his first premier division match.

Robertson did hit the ball with a hand, and he apologised to Motherwell's players.

"He said he had been pushed slightly and couldn't help but hit the ball with a hand," said Motherwell's captain, Chris McCart.

"John said it was not deliberate."

Motherwell's players seethed for the remainder of the first half, yet strangely enough three Hearts players -- Bett, John Millar, and Allan Johnston -- were booked before both sides retreated indoors.

"I used that time to calm everyone down," said manager Alex McLeish, whose players responded in the best possible way by scoring their second goal less than a minute after half-time.

They broke swiftly down the right with Rab Shannon running deep to take Paul Lambert's flick before cutting the ball powerfully across the face of Hearts' goal.

His pass was played perfectly, with the ball running just in front of Dave McPherson, who was facing his keeper, Henry Smith, and perhaps fearing he might prod the ball into his net if he tried to intercept, the central defender hesitated for a split second.

That was enough.

By the time he extended one of those telescopic legs of his the ball had skidded beyond him and into the path of Tommy Coyne, never one to hesitate, and he thumped the ball into the net.

Hearts tried to increase their work-rate, but much of it was frantic and lacking in direction, which is where Bett should have come in.

Manager Tommy McLean had to drop Bett back into defence because of problems caused by the loss of Alan McLaren to Rangers, Tosh McKinlay to Celtic, and Craig Levein and Graeme Hogg to suspension.

McLean had to pull Bett behind McPherson and Neil Berry.

Also, John Millar had to curtail his forward runs, and it all meant Hearts were weakened too much in midfield.

They were caught in possession too often and were second to most of the loose balls.

They had early warnings of what was to come when three times Dougie Arnott tried to test Henry Smith before Shannon struck in 30 minutes.

Coyne used his chest to play the ball down to Paul Lambert, who then brought Billy Davies into the move, and he lofted the ball forward into Hearts' box.

However, his touch was too heavy and the ball seemed to be heading out of play, but Arnott sped in pursuit before executing an overhead kick on the bye-line.

The ball dropped on the edge of the 18-yard box and Shannon's low shot was true.

It was his second goal of the season and it strengthened Motherwell's belief that they could continue to press Rangers.

"We are very happy with the way things are going," said McCart, who stepped back into the side after having had time off recovering from a virus.

The person who made way for him was his manager, McLeish, and McCart added: "I've been out twice, in fact, and both times the manager has gone in.

He's done quite well, really."

Glowing praise, indeed, and it does seem as though the boy McLeish does have a future in the game.

Taken from the Herald