Motherwell 6 Hearts 1

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Motherwell ended their 11-game Premier League winless streak in style as they hit Hearts for six at Fir Park.

Stephen Pearson opened the scoring the SPL bottom club before James McFadden struck from the penalty spot after being fouled himself by Andy Webster in the 19th minute.

Seven minutes later, McFadden scored a second before Derek Adams gave Well a 4-0 half time lead.

Northern Ireland international Andy Kirk grabbed a goal back for Hearts six minutes after the break.

But, 10 minutes later, Martyn Corrigan grabbed Motherwell's fifth before substitute Steven Ferguson completed the rout in injury time.

The Jambos were injury ravaged but even they could not have expected to have fallen behind so quickly.

It took the home side just 14 minutes to storm into the lead. Hearts debutant defender David Dunn endured a nightmare start to his Jambos' career, allowing McFadden to go clear on the left flank and the Scotland international found Pearson with his cross into the box.

The Motherwell midfielder's first shot was blocked by Kevin McKenna but his second strike from the rebound went wide of Hearts' goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie and into the corner of the net.

The home side immediately grew in confidence and, three minutes later, dramatically made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after Webster clumsily brought down the slippery McFadden in the box.

The Motherwell striker dusted himself down and sent McKenzie the wrong way from 12 yards.

The visitors were shell-shocked and there was no real surprise when Well added a third in the 25th minute.

The energetic Pearson found the ever-dangerous McFadden with a raking cross-field pass which split the overworked Tynecastle defence.

McFadden then worked a good shooting position inside the right-hand side of the box and drilled a low shot past McKenzie into the corner.

Ten minutes later it was game, set and match when the home side added an amazing fourth.

Pearson again found space on the left and his cross from the left found Adams who headed past the helpless McKenzie from close range.

Luck was on Motherwell's side and, two minutes before the interval, Well defender David Partridge's mis-timed clearance came off his own bar before rebounding to safety.

Hearts came out after the interval determined to get back into the game to and, in the 51st minute, pulled a goal back when Kirk headed home a Jean-Louis Valois free-kick from close range.

It sparked off a spell of pressure by the visitors who sensed a comeback could perhaps be on the cards.

But the Tynecastle men still seemed fragile in defence and there was always a threat when Motherwell went into attack.

The game raged from end to end but, in the 66th minute, the home side - composed and organised again - restored their lead with a fine goal from the unlikely source of Corrigan.

The experienced defender picked up a loose ball at the edge of the box and drilled a low shot past the unsighted McKenzie.

Motherwell relaxed and began to play some nice free-flowing football.

Chances continued to crop up at either end and only a good save from McKenzie in the 73rd minute prevented McFadden grabbing his hat-trick.

Dirk Lehmann and Scott Leitch both had efforts for Motherwell as the visitors wilted in the final stages.

Then, in injury time, Well substitute Ferguson, on minutes earlier for Daniel Sengewald, rounded McKenzie to make it 6-1 and round off an astonishing night.

Teams

Motherwell Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Sengewald (Ferguson 85), Kinniburgh, Hammell, Adams, Leitch, Partridge, Pearson, McFadden, Lehmann.

Subs Not Used: Woods, McDonald, Clarkson, Quinn.

Booked: Sengewald.

Goals: Pearson 15, McFadden 19 pen, 26, Adams 36, Corrigan 66, Ferguson 90.

Hearts McKenzie, Dunn (Weir 74), Severin, McKenna, McCann (Mahe 61), Queifio (Knox 39), Simmons, Webster, Valois, Kirk, de Vries.

Subs Not Used: Gordon, Janczyk.

Booked: McKenna.

Goals: Kirk 51.

Att: 4,114

Ref: Stuart Dougal (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com