Motherwell 1 Hearts 1

A last-minute Paul Hartley penalty gave resilient Hearts a share of the spoils in the Bank of Scotland Premier League against Motherwell at Fir Park.

Brian McLean's first goal for the Steelmen since arriving on loan from Rangers at the start of the season gave the battling Lanarkshire side a half-time lead.

The Steelmen then looked to have survived a second-half mauling from the Edinburgh men before McLean turned sinner in the dying moments.

He brought down Andy Webster in the Well penalty area allowing Hartley to slam home the equaliser from the spot as the Jambos reduced the deficit behind SPL leaders Celtic to just one point.

There was a perfectly-observed one-minute silence for the late George Best before the kick-off.

But the first half was far removed from the quality of play associated with the Manchester United legend.

The home side threatened first with midfielder Alan McCormack's cross from the right causing some unease in the Gorgie defence before the ball was cleared by Steven Pressley.

When the game settled down, it was Well who looked the more direct.

Veteran striker Jim Hamilton tested Craig Gordon with a 30-yarder after five minutes which the Hearts keeper saved comfortably.

With only 18-year-old Calum Elliot in attack, the Jambos' threat seemed curtailed in their 4-5-1 formation.

However, it was the visitors who won the first corner after 14 minutes, but, when Rudi Skacel's cross came in, Elliot was judged to have fouled Well keeper Graeme Smith.

In the 25th minute, Scott McDonald's shot from 14 yards, after good work by Richie Foran, was carelessly parried by Gordon to Shaun Fagan.

But the Scotland keeper recovered well to push the midfielder's close-range drive over the bar.

In the 40th minute, Motherwell took the lead following a clumsy foul by Webster on Hamilton 25 yards from goal.

Kerr played the ball wide right to the unmarked Hamilton and, when the former Jambo's low cross came to the back post, McLean was at the back post to slot home.

At the interval, Hearts first team coach Graham Rix replaced Julien Brellier with Stephen Simmons and pushed the utility player up alongside Elliot.

Hearts immediately looked more threatening but had to find a way past a resolute Well defence determined to hang on to their lead.

In the 54th minute, there was a moment of controversy when Skacel was booked for diving in the Motherwell penalty area following what looked like a robust tackle by Foran.

The incident served to increase the tempo of the game by another notch but still the Gorgie side's determination to rely on the high ball was being all too easily nullified by the solid home defence.

Motherwell, dropping deeper and deeper, were relying on the break now with McDonald the outlet.

Just after the hour mark, Rix threw on Roman Bednar for Saulius Mikoliunas.

The Tynecastle side were dominating possession against the increasingly ragged home side but still a lack of composure characterised their play.

In the 70th minute, there was a moment of panic in the home defence when they conspired to leave Skacel free at the back post to take a Simmons cross.

But Well defender Stephen Craigan quickly recovered to block the Czech's drive from 14 yards.

But there was late drama in the final minute when the visitors grabbed the equaliser.

McLean brought down Webster in the Motherwell penalty area and Hartley gleefully slammed home the spot-kick.

Teams:

Motherwell Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, McLean, Paul Quinn, Kerr, Fagan, McCormack (Kinniburgh 90), Foran (Fitzpatrick 80), Hamilton, Scott McDonald (Clarkson 72).

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, McBride, Coakley, Darren Lee Smith.

Booked: Corrigan, Hamilton, McLean, McCormack.

Goals: McLean 40.

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Fyssas, Brellier (Simmons 45), Hartley, Skacel, McAllister, Elliot (Cesnauskis 80), Mikoliunas (Bednar 61).

Subs Not Used: MacDonald, MacFarlane, Tall, Wallace.

Booked: Elliot, Skacel, Neilson, Hartley.

Goals: Hartley 90 pen.

Att: 8,131

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com