Hearts 2 Motherwell 1

By Chris Roberts, PA Sport

The resurgence of Terry Butcher's side cruelly came to a heartbreaking end at Tynecastle today after substitute Stephen Simmons bagged an undeserved late winner for European-chasing Hearts.

After three consecutive victories, a rejuvenated Motherwell showed their much-admired fighting qualities again when Keith Lasley's brilliant second-half goal had cancelled out Kevin McKenna's opener which came against the run of play after 30 minutes.

But whether it was naivety or self-confidence, the cash-strapped Lanarkshire outfit went for the kill and paid a harsh price late on.

The result meant third-place Hearts stayed well on course for European football next season, but you could only feel for Motherwell.

They signalled their intentions early on when they carved out the first chance of the game following a great flowing move.

David Clarkson back-healed the ball into the path of Lasley, but Teuvo Moilanen did well to save his first strike before the youngster screwed his next effort wide.

James McFadden showed his pace for the first time minutes later to skin Andy Webster, but Steven Pressley made a vital challenge to stop him from going clean through o goal.

The much-coveted striker then got away from the defender again and pulled the ball back from the byline, but Clarkson was unable to seize on Moilanen's spill.

But Motherwell goalkeeper Francois Dubourdeau was called into action for the first time in the 22nd minute when he saved Webster's six-yard header from Jean-Louis Valois' corner.

The Frenchman breathed a sigh of relief moments later when McKenna rose to head Alan Maybury's cross inside the box and his glancing effort went just past the upright.

The sun went in and the gloom also descended on the visitors in the 30th minute when Hearts took the lead.

Maybury broke up a Motherwell move and sent Scott Severin forward and he played a great ball through to Gary Wales on the right flank.

He inturn found McKenna, making his first start in six games, in the centre of the field and he drilled a right-foot shot past the despairing dive of the keeper from 22 yards.

The Fir Park side again had to show their fabulous fighting qualities again now, but the game erupted in the 35th minute after Maybury had sent Stephen Pearson flying into the air with a lunge to spark a furious reaction from the Motherwell midfielder.

Referee Mike McCurry booked both players and then had to have words with both Craig Levein and Butcher on the touchline after the two managers had exchanged angry words after the incident.

McCurry awarded Motherwell a chance of something in the 43rd minute when he awarded them a free-kick four yards outside the box after Webster had fouled McFadden.

The young striker stepped up and hit a crisp right-foot shot which was destined for the top corner, but the Hearts keeper snatched the ball out of the air.

Moments later and McCurry again sparked an angry reaction on the Motherwell bench when McFadden appeared to be brought down by Valois inside the box.

Hearts came out for the second half looking to kill the visitors off and they almost made the perfect start just a minute after the restart.

Wales sent Phil Stamp away and he pulled the ball across goal for Valois at the back post, but his shot flew just past the upright.

Moilanen flapped unconvincingly flapped at Steven Hammell's free-kick before making amends moments later by saving David Partridge's point-blank volley from McFadden's ball.

Motherwell, however, were on level terms in the 52nd minute courtesy of a glorious piece of skill from Lasley.

The ball broke to him on the edge of the box and he flicked it over Stephane Mahe before blasting the ball between the Hearts keeper and his post from eight yards.

Motherwell were well on top and the Hearts defence looked shaky to say the least.

McFadden easily got away in the box and found David Clarkson, but his shot was saved by Moilanen before a mistake by Simmons, on for Neil MacFarlane, gave Pearson a chance to test the home goalkeeper to his right.

The youngster found himself clean through on goal twice in the space of a minute, but he fired over with a rush of blood to the head before Webster made a vital challenge.

But the visitors were harshly made to pay on the break for not taking their chances when Simmons swept Stamp's cross past Dubourdeau from close range after 71 minutes.

Levein immediately tried to defend that lead such was Motherwell's dominance and he replaced Valois with Steven Boyack.

More changes followed from both sides for different needs, but Hearts hung on for a undeserved win and bring the rejuvenated visitors' recent run to a painful end.

Teams

Hearts: Moilanen, Maybury, Pressley, Webster, Mahe, Stamp, Severin, MacFarlane (Simmons 62), Valois (Boyack 74), Wales (Kirk 82), McKenna.

Subs Not Used: Gordon, McCann.

Booked: Maybury.

Goals: McKenna 30, Simmons 72.

Motherwell: Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Vaughan, Partridge, Hammell, Lasley, Ramsey, Fagan (Lehmann 77), Pearson, McFadden, Clarkson (Offiong 82).

Subs Not Used: Woods, Cowan, Craig.

Booked: Ramsey, Pearson, Vaughan.

Goals: Lasley 53.

Att: 11,704

Ref: Michael McCurry (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com