Wyness warms the Hearts as Severin severs his ties

MIKE AITKEN AT TYNECASTLE

Hearts 3 Wyness (5, 68), McKenna (75)
Motherwell 2 S McDonald (37), Clarkson (45)

Referee: I Brines. Attendance: 11,619

IN SPITE of the warmth of the sunshine, the clarity of the blue skies and the valid sense of satisfaction at a job well done over the course of a season, there was an undeniably bittersweet undercurrent to the last afternoon of the campaign for Hearts at Tynecastle.

Although Craig Levein’s side produced a final flourish worthy of the third best side in the SPL - winning a game which might easily have been lost - the departure of players like Scott Severin and Andy Kirk, as well as the fear that next season will be the club’s last in Gorgie, sent darker clouds scurrying across what otherwise would have been an idyllic scene.

A long way short of fielding their strongest side, Hearts were as dogged and spirited as they’ve been all year and showed why they’ve lost only one of their last 18 league games. Against a Motherwell side who deserved to take something from the match and were thrillingly well served by Scott McDonald and David Clarkson, Hearts refused to accept second best.

"We weren’t as solid as we’ve been and it wasn’t our best performance by a long way - which had a lot to do with my tinkering with the team - but some different players came in and were as resilient as everyone else who has played for us," said Craig Levein afterwards. The truth is this is a side which doesn’t like getting beaten.

As for Motherwell, Terry Butcher spoke about his satisfaction in watching the progress of a group of young players "who worked their socks off". The former English internationalist thought it was a wonderful game of football and had a few extra words of praise for Clarkson: "David still has lots of things to work on, but he’s got better and better and played a part in all of our games."

Without Steven Pressley in defence and Mark de Vries up front, Hearts lacked the physical edge in key areas. Although there was no shortage of movement or desire about this display, there was, at times, a fragility about Hearts untypical of the teams coached by Levein.

While lapses in concentration proved costly later in the first half, a brisk opening culminated in an early goal for Wyness which was the offspring of Paul Hartley’s imagination. The former Hibs and St Johnstone man has blossomed this year as a central midfield player with a gift for supporting the strikers. When the Motherwell rearguard hesitated for a second or two, Hartley nipped into the inside-right position and wrong-footed the defence before cutting back a pass which Wyness sidefooted in.

Motherwell, to their credit, always offered gritty resistance. Once they moved out of first gear, there was no stopping the visitors. McDonald’s inviting cross might have forced the equaliser had Scott Burns’ clumsy first touch not let the home side off the hook. As it was, Motherwell’s first goal was only delayed until the 37th minute when Clarkson’s good work ended with Burns forcing the ball against a post, before McDonald hammered the rebound past Craig Gordon from close range.

Hearts fell asleep at the near post on the stroke of half-time when Jason Dair’s flighted cross was headed into the roof of the net by Clarkson in a finish worthy of Henrik Larsson.

Finding themselves a goal behind and needing to chase the game, Hearts were at sixes and sevens when the second half got under way. Burns might easily have scored twice during the opening exchanges.

A surging run from Patrick Kisnorbo down the left touchline demonstrated Hearts’ desire to salvage something from the game, as did the introduction of Kirk. By the time the Ulsterman was on the pitch Hearts had equalised. Joe Hamill’s pass sent Hartley clear on goal, but the midfielder couldn’t beat Barry-John Corr, who dived bravely at his feet but the ball flew from his grasp and Wyness gratefully accepted a second poacher’s goal.

In an enjoyably open and hectic contest - "It might have been 10-10," said Butcher - the ebullient Clarkson could have regained the lead for the visitors had Gordon not pulled off a terrific save. Thereafter, Hearts piled forward and were back in front by the 75th minute when Hartley’s corner was headed into the ground by Kevin McKenna before the ball bounced into the net.

A rousing postscript fed into a parade of honour for Severin’s nine years and nearly 200 games in a maroon jersey.

"It’s going to be very emotional to leave Tynecastle," he admitted. Those in the stands may know how Severin feels in a year’s time.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, McKenna, Webster, Tierney (Kisnorbo 45), Boyack (Janczyk 71), Severin, Hartley, MacFarlane (Kirk 71), Wyness, Hamill. Subs not Used: Moilanen, Driver.

Motherwell: Corr, Corrigan, Craigan, Hammell, Lasley, Quinn, Scott McDonald, Fitzpatrick (Wright 78), Dair, Burns (Cowan 86), Clarkson. Subs Not Used: Reid, Kevin McDonald, Higgins.

Taken from the Scotsman