Robertson's goal warms him up for capital derby Hearts manage to reach the heights as bar and post deny Motherwell

By IAN PAUL

12 Nov 1996

Motherwell 0 Hearts 2 HEARTS jumped into the heady air of the top three, or close to it, when they gathered three points at Fir Park to go level with third-placed Aberdeen, although they are well behind on goal difference.

It was a well-timed win for other reasons, too, particularly the Edinburgh derby at the weekend.

The capital side were the more positive last night, with the exception of a short spell after they opened the scoring early in the second half through Stephane Paille, who hit his first league goal for the club.

Motherwell might consider themselves unlucky not to equalise, especially as they hit the bar and a post during their spell of ascendancy, but overall they had no complaint.

It was that man who is warming up for another derby, John Robertson, back in the team after injury, who hit the clinching goal two minutes from the end.

In front of only 5441, their lowest home crowd of the season, Motherwell were a disappointment, taking far too long to inject any urgency into their play.

Hearts, on the other hand, always looked as if they believed they could succeed, which is probably why they did.

"I thought we were much more urgent in the second half and passed the ball quicker," said Hearts manager Jim Jefferies.

"We had a lot of possession in the first half but didn't do a lot with it.

"Motherwell tried to come back and got a couple of breaks when they hit the bar and a post but even then I thought we still looked likely to score again." Motherwell's leader, Alex McLeish, agreed with one of Jefferies points, saying: "We needed a break but I thought our players gave terrific commitment and effort, just lacking the cutting edge.

"The injuries to van der Gaag and Falconer are not helping.

Scots teams rarely need encouragement to expend energy, but the chill wind made sure that the players of both teams set about their business in full flight.

Hearts began in sprightly fashion, forcing Motherwell into retreat, and one good move from a Pointon free kick might have brought early reward when Robertson laid the ball back to Cameron, whose shot was well struck but hit a defender.

Referee Graeme Alison, whose face was well remembered by Hearts players - he was the linesman heavily involved in the mayhem when the Edinburgh side were reduced to seven men at Ibrox earlier in the season - produced his first yellow card in 10 minutes when Motherwell's Brian Martin fouled Paille, and his second a minute later after another Motherwell man, Alex Burns, impeded Cameron.

The home side's best effort up to that point had been a diving header by Coyne after Arnott dummied a McSkimming cross, but it was Hearts who came nearest to a goal when an in-swinging corner by Fulton was headed off the line by Burns.

Weir then put Paille in with a chance, but the Frenchman chested the ball too far ahead of himself and allowed Howie to come out to save.

It was Gilles Rousset's turn at the opposite end soon after when he dived to collect the ball at the feet of McSkimming, who had just recovered from a foul by Weir for which the Hearts man had his name taken.

He, like the two others who were booked, might have felt harshly treated, especially as Jeremy Goss had been let off earlier after a much worse foul when he flattened Burns.

Motherwell were able to become a bit more positive nearer the interval, but still did not create a serious chance.

Alison took out his yellow card for the fourth time when Paille was accused of diving inside the penalty area.

It was Hearts who took the initiative at the opening of the second half, however, and Robertson was in quick with a good effort which Howie had to grasp low down.

The Hearts striker was on target again with a snap volley which Howie still managed to save comfortably enough.

The goal the Tynecastle men were well due was scored by the other striker, Paille, in 54 minutes.

He finished a splendid sweeping move from defence before Cameron passed to Goss.

His curling cross found Paille, who knocked it past Howie.

On aggression alone, it was deserved but it produced some of that from Motherwell immediately, and Rousset had to look lively to clutch two quick replies from the home side.

Motherwell ought to have equalised with their next attempt when May sent over a superb cross which reached Arnott in the clear, but his header, although beating Rousset, hit the bar and rebounded out of the danger zone.

Suddenly Motherwell were looking dangerous for the first time.

Arnott and Coyne worked well down the right before Rousset cut out a threatening cross from Coyne.

Hearts found their attacking verve again, however, and one good raid finished with Mackay, in his 500th league game, just being thwarted by Howie.

Back came Motherwell in what was at last a game worth watching, and substitute Billy Davies, who had just replaced Ross, sent over a cross which beat everyone but came off the bottom of the far post.

With Motherwell pushing, Hearts could break dangerously, as they did when Cameron might have done better than shoot tamely past a post.

With 10 minutes left, Motherwell tried another substitution, Lee McCulloch for Arnott, in a bid to get a goal.

Eddie May was a bit too enthusiastic, however, when he fouled Robertson and therefore became the fifth man to be booked.

Hearts decided to take off Paille and bring on John Colquhoun in 83 minutes.

Five minutes later, his old mate, Robertson, stole the ball off Martin, ran on, and shot into the net.

Completing Motherwell's misery, Davies was helped off suffering from a leg injury.

MOTHERWELL - Howie, May, Denham, Philliben, Martin, McCart, Burns, Arnott, Coyne, McSkimming, Ross.

Substitutes - Roddie, McCulloch, Davies.

HEARTS - Rousset, Weir, Pointon, Mackay, McPherson, Ritchie, Paille, Goss, Robertson, Cameron, Fulton.

Substitutes - Callaghan, Colquhoun, Bruno.

Referee - G Alison (Dumfries).

Taken from the Herald