Motherwell 2 Hearts 1

By Simon Stone, PA Sport

Veteran winger Pat Nevin grabbed a last-gasp winner against 10-man Hearts at Fir Park to maintain Motherwell's assault on a UEFA Cup spot.

Nevin steered the ball past substitute goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie, who had enjoyed a trouble-free evening after coming on shortly after Gilles Rousset had been dismissed, to give the home side their fifth win in six games.

Earlier, Lee McCulloch, the man Hearts manager Jim Jefferies has made three separate transfer bids for in the last two weeks, had put Motherwell in front following a dreadful defensive mix-up between Gary Naysmith and Rab McKinnon.

The Hearts pair both left John Spencer's hopeful long-ball believing the other would complete the routine clearance.

But neither did, Derek Townsley nipped in to fire a shot which Rousset couldn't hold and McCulloch finished off for his seventh goal of the campaign.

McCulloch left little room to doubt why Jefferies rates him in the £750,000 bracket in an action-packed first-half.

The Scotland Under 21 international mesmerised the visitors' defence with his darting runs across the field and he showed an equally impressive first touch when the ball was drilled into his path.

Hearts opened like a team struggling to find their form, while Motherwell looked what they are - a side playing to the maximum of their capabilities.

After registering 13 points from their last five games, Fir Park boss Billy Davies was looking to cement a place in the top four, which could bring them a UEFA Cup spot next term.

Stand-in skipper Steven Pressley was forced to make a last-ditch tackle on McCulloch after Rab McKinnon's woeful back pass had drifted into the home striker's path.

Jefferies was already showing his discontent from the touchline well before Naysmith and McKinnon combined to gift Motherwell their opener.

It would have been two had Spencer not angled his flicked header inches wide a minute later after McCulloch had shown he is equally adept in the role of provider.

The youngster then set up Derek Townsley on the edge of the area but the former Carlisle man battered his shot straight at Gilles Rousset.

Hearts had offered little in attack, peppering the Motherwell goal with long-range shots but rarely threatening to find any other way through a well-marshalled home defence.

Rousset's dismissal at least galvanised the Edinburgh outfit into action, even if his red card for handling McCulloch's shot outside his box could be deemed slightly harsh.

Having survived until the interval, the visitors kept their opponents waiting for their re-emergence, then left them standing in the cold again as Gary Locke provided the perfect cross from which Gary McSwegan glanced home the equaliser.

The home supporters were stunned and their players couldn't quite shake the despondency from their legs.

It took the arrival of veteran winger cum chief executive Nevin to revive them, the former Chelsea star sparking his team-mates into life with a succession of deft flicks and intelligent off-the-ball runs.

It was Nevin who sent Stephen McMillan scampering down the left midway through the second half, the ensuing cross finding Spencer, whose lay-off was side-footed against the angle of post and bar by Townsley, who should have done better.

As time ticked away, Hearts gave up any hopes of hitting Motherwell on the break and dropped further back in their attempts to soak up the pressure.

Brannan fired over after being set up by substitute Don Goodman, then the former Tranmere man looked away in anguish as Leclerq headed his nod-back off the line.

McKenzie made a smothering save from Goodman's header down by his left-hand post but Motherwell were not to be denied, Nevin's late strike sealing yet another win.

Teams

Motherwell: Woods, Doesburg (Goodman 74), Kemble, Teale, Townsley, Valakari, Brannan, Twaddle (Nevin 53), McMillan,Spencer, McCulloch.

Subs Not Used: McGowan, Nicholas, Brown.

Goals: McCulloch 24, Nevin 90.

Hearts: Rousset, Leclercq, Pressley, Ritchie, Naysmith (Makel 59), Locke, Jackson (McKenzie 41), Fulton, Flogel, McKinnon (Murray 79), McSwegan.

Subs Not Used: Adam, Wales.

Sent Off: Rousset (40).

Booked: Locke, Naysmith.

Goals: McSwegan 46.

Att: 7,850

Ref: John Rowbotham (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com