Hearts ensured they remain top of the premier division after winning with comfort a game which turned in the last minute of the first-half when Motherwell lost a man, a penalty and a goal.

Kevin Christie's apparent push on David Weir in the area earned him a red card for a second bookable offence and the punishment was doubled when Colin Cameron converted the resulting penalty.

Prior to this Hearts had dominated possession but been frustrated by resolute defending in numbers by the struggling visitors.

It became increasingly inevitable that Hearts would double their advantage after the break, however, as they used their extra man to good effect.

When it came the goal was a simple one, Thomas Flogel making the most of a Steve Fulton throughball to slide the ball past Steve Woods after 68 minutes.

Hearts finished the match playing the assured football which has taken them ahead of the Old Firm so far this campaign, with Neil McCann in particular exposing Motherwell's loss of Christie.

Without the red card it might have been different, but fortune has favoured the Edinburgh side lately and now they will look to their capital rivals Hibernian to surprise Rangers tomorrow.

Hearts welcomed back skipper Neil Pointon after a groin strain, while manager Jim Jefferies opted for three attackers on the bench including veteran John Robertson.

The home side attacked from the outset and were close to breaking the deadlock after 23 minutes when Fulton's corner proved just too high for Paul Ritchie's leap unmarked at the far post.

Before that Stephane Adam had spurned a fine chance with a downward header which bounced over the crossbar following a precise cross from McCann.

Motherwell's well-known ability to frustrate their opponents was again to the fore and Hearts' anxiety at failing to establish the lead their efforts deserved was becoming evident.

Kevin Christie earned himself a booking for a late lunge on Cameron and from the free-kick which followed it was Weir's turn to try his luck, but Woods saved comfortably.

A brilliant overhead kick from Flogel also went just wide, this time from an Adam cross, and the same duo combined to create an excellent chance for Cameron.

He was put through with only Woods to beat, but in attempting to place his shot fired the ball straight into the keeper's legs.

In the final minute of the half, Gary Locke was left grounded by Shaun McSkimming but the referee ruled the challenge merited just a booking.

Christie was then yellow-carded moments later for pushing Weir in the area earning the double blow of his marching orders and a penalty.

Cameron stepped up and this time made no mistake from the spot to give Hearts a last-gasp interval lead with around four minutes of injury time played.

Adam volleyed over the crossbar when well-placed after 56 minutes as Hearts pressed for a decisive second goal.

Woods' noticeable hesitation from backpasses was exposed by Adam and he picked out Flogel, whose chip at an empty goal clipped the top of the crossbar.

On the hour McCann found the impressive Flogel again in space on the right, but his strike drifted wide of the target.

In Hearts' next attack, Scotland prospect McCann drilled in a low cross towards Adam but the ball was turned to safety by Steve McMillan as the extra man began to tell for the home team.

By the closing stages, the match was so one-sided Weir felt moved to join the attack, firing into the side netting with 10 minutes remaining.

Other chances for a more emphatic win were spurned late on, but for the moment all that matters is Hearts lead the table by four points with the season fast approaching halfway. The improbable may yet happen.

Teams:

Hearts: Rousset, Locke, Pointon, Weir, Salvatori, Ritchie, McCann, Fulton (Hamilton 73), Adam (Quitongo 82), Cameron, Flogel (Robertson 73).

Goals: Cameron 45 pen, Flogel 68.

Motherwell: Woods, May, McMillan, Christie, Craigan, Philliben, Hendry (Arnott 82), Ross, Coyne (Shivute 71), McSkimming, Coyle.

Subs Not Used: Denham.

Sent Off: Christie (45).

Booked: Christie, McMillan, Craigan, McSkimming, Ross.

Att: 12,706

Ref: G Clyde (Bearsden).


Taken from sportinglife.com