Motherwell 2 Hearts 0

Jim Hamilton had squandered a chance to give Well the lead when he fired a weak penalty straight at Craig Gordon.

But fellow striker McDonald pounced to drive home after goalkeeper Gordon had saved from Stevie Hammell.

Teenager Fitzpatrick, in for the injured Phil O'Donnell, fired in the second just before the break.

Hearts had threatened first, Well goalkeeper Gordon Marshall turning a powerful Dennis Wyness drive behind for a corner.

Christophe Berra replaced the suspended Andy Webster and the Hearts defence were under pressure early on without the Scotland defender.

Well were awarded a penalty after 13 minutes, when Lee Wallace brought down Scott McDonald.

But, after winning his battle with Kevin McBride to take the spot kick, Jim Hamilton sent his poor effort straight into the arms of goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

McDonald sent a curled effort past Gordon's right-hand post before breaking the deadlock after 25 minutes.

The striker slotted the ball past Gordon after the goalkeeper had parried a drive from Hammell.

Gordon palmed away a low drive from McDonald then McBride sent a header on to the roof of the net as Well dominated.

Fitzpatrick made it 2-0 in the 39th minute, after a poor clearing header by Steven Pressley, the teenager firing past Gordon despite Wallace and Berra both challenging.

Stephen Simmons fired straight at Marshall as Hearts started the second half brightly.

Fitzpatrick scuffed a good chance wide as Well came close to stretching their lead further.

Gordon then tipped a Hamilton header over his bar and the striker also saw a left-foot effort blocked by a defender after the ball had broken to him in the box.

Hearts came close when Simmons sent Lee Miller away down the inside right channel and Marshall could not hold on to the cross.

Substitute Mark Burchill was intent on getting on the end of the loose ball, but Paul Quinn was alert and booted clear.

Motherwell: Marshall, Paul Quinn, Partridge, Craigan, Hammell, McBride, Leitch, Fitzpatrick, Paterson (Foran 86), Hamilton, Scott McDonald (Clarkson 84).
Subs Not Used: Wright, Fagan, Kinniburgh, Connolly, Corr.

Booked: Scott McDonald. Goals: Scott McDonald 25, Fitzpatrick 39.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Berra, Wallace, Mikoliunas, Hartley, Simmons (Kizys 79), Cesnauskis (McAllister 60), Miller, Wyness (Burchill 53).
Subs Not Used: McKenna, MacFarlane, Thorarinsson, Moilanen.

Booked: Wyness, Miller, Berra.

Att: 7,390

Ref: C Murray

Taken from the BBC