HAMM COMFORTS

Window of opportunity closed for Steven but he's happy to stay: MOTHERWELL 2 HEARTS 0

By Neil Cameron

STEVEN HAMMELL is tipped for a move away from Fir Park every time a transfer window opens. And every time one closes, he's still there. Is Hammell disappointed? Not a chance.

The left-back is an obvious candidate for a switch to a bigger club and it's no surprise Celtic, among many others, have made discreet inquiries.

The impressively consistent 23-year-old was a stand-out in a thoroughly convincing win for Terry Butcher's men.

Hammell was all over the park, breaking up attacks, winning tackles and getting up to help his forwards. He even set up the opener.

As difficult as it was for Hearts to muster any decent possession on Saturday, it was harder to wipe the smile from Hammell's face. He knew he'd had a good game so why try to hide it?

And he was also delighted to talk about a match for once and not where he was allegedly being transferred to.

Hammell said: 'I think it was my best performance for a while. I'm a lot more settled at the club than I have been in a long time.

'During the transfer window there was all sorts of speculation about me and it does get to you, I can't deny that.

'When the January window shut I was happy because I knew I was staying at Motherwell. I wanted to get my mind off other things and get back to football.

'We are absolutely delighted with the win because it's been two months since we last had one in the SPL.

'We have been unlucky in recent weeks. In our games against Dundee and Hibs I felt we were worthy of a win. It didn't come, but it did today.'

Hearts have been in a rich vein of form, but were rank rotten in Lanarkshire, especially at the back.

Steven Pressley is a class act, but he's probably never had a worse game.

John Robertson's men received a warning in 12 minutes when young Lee Wallace brought down Scott McDonald inside the box.

A penalty was given but Jim Hamilton's effort was weaker than water and Gordon Marshall had an easy save.

However, that didn't knock the home side off their stride. Hammell was the architect of their opener in 24 minutes, bursting through the Hearts defence.

While Craig Gordon saved his shot, McDonald pounced on the loose ball and smashed it into the back of the net.

It was 2-0 before the break when the Hearts defence gifted a goal to the impressive Marc Fitzpatrick.

Wallace and Stephen Simmons left a high ball to each other just inside the box and the Motherwell man stepped in to knock a shot past Gordon.

There was to be no comeback from the Tynecastle men. Indeed, in the second half Gordon superbly saved Jim Paterson's spectacular volley and kept out a fine header from Hamilton.

The keeper was the one fielding questions after the game, too.

Gordon said: 'I don't think it's fair to say we are inconsistent. This was a setback, nothing else. If you want to call it something else then it's another example of people having a go at Hearts. It has happened all season.

'There is no getting away from the fact it was a bad performance, but that's all it was. One bad performance. We are not coming off the rails or anything. We have already moved on.

'This is a hard place to come to, Motherwell make it difficult at the best of times.

'We had a few new lads and perhaps they are used to more time and space on the ball. You don't get that in Scotland, especially not at Fir Park.'

MAN OF THE MATCH Steven Hammell (Motherwell) Motherwell - Marshall, Quinn, Partridge, Craigan, Hammell, McBride, Leitch, Fitzpatrick, Paterson (Foran 86), Hamilton, McDonald (Clarkson 84). Subs not used: Wright, Fagan, Kinniburgh, Connolly, Corr.

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.

Referee - C Murray.Moment of the match: Hearts defence hesitated, Marc Fitpatrick didn't and at 2-0 there was only going to be one winner.

Taken from the Daily Record