Motherwell 0 Heart of Midlothian 1

In common with what's gone on since George Burley left last season, Hearts rarely go from one game to the next fielding the same side. However in recent times this constant tinkering has gotten a little ridiculous and today at Fir Park was another example of that.

Perhaps, like many others, I'm reading far too much into the possibility that Mr Romanov's influence on team affairs could be more than it should. But there just seem to be so many decisions being made that don't appear to be getting made by football people. Either that or Valdas Ivanauskas is not the man to take Hearts forward, you can take your pick.

Today Hearts lined up with a side that contained changes in it that seemed unnecessary and/or downright baffling. After questioning the decision to substitute Pinilla and Beslija on Thursday against Sparta, where they were among our best performers, we were today wondering why neither of them were in the squad. Pinilla especially, as we had injuries to Jankauskas and Pospisil and Bednar was suspended, so it seems absolutely ludicrous that this guy, who looks potentially the best striker we have, was not even on the bench. Instead we started with young Jamie Mole and Andrius Velicka.

In defence Christophe Berra was unavailable, so instead of putting in Karapidis or Tall as a straight swap, the whole defence was compromised by dropping Neilson, bringing in Tall at right-back and playing Marius Zaliukas, a central midfield player, at centre-half. Yes Neilson has been poor recently, but this was a decision that nearly cost us three points today. If we'd been playing a decent side, they'd have taken advantage in my opinion.

Thankfully Motherwell are struggling even more than us at the moment and we were able to come away with three points...eventually!

The first half was a candidate for worst of the season so far in terms of skill and entertainment. It's almost a cliche, but I really have seen better on a public park! Hearts had most of the possession but once they got into the last third of the field, the lack of movement and innovation in the side meant that we rarely made any progress beyond there.

Motherwell were a tough, uncompromising side under Terry Butcher and they continue to be very physical under Maurice Malpas. Some of the challenges in that first half were 'robust' (I'm being kind!) and Deividas Cesnauskas paid the full price for that when he was stretchered off after half an hour after a brutal tackle that went completely unpunished by the hapless Iain Brines. Neil McCann was his replacement, so the Hearts fans around me had someone else to pick on besides Mikoliunas.

If Hearts had most of the possession in that first half, it was Motherwell who had the chances to score. Hitting on the break, they were right through on Craig Gordon on no fewer than three occasions as the unfamiliar back four struggled to settle. Thankfully all three chances were wasted, two by Scott McDonald who shot over the bar both times and the other by Richie Foran, who slid the ball past Gordon's left hand post. Foran was being his usual pain the backside self, pushing people around and moaning his way through the match. Not many felt sympathy for him when he crashed into the post just before half-time!

HT 0-0

Things did not appear to be getting much better in the second half, as it quickly became obvious that unless someone made a radical change, it would be more of the same for the duration.

That change was made by Hearts after 54 minutes, when Julien Brellier was controversially sacrificed for Robbie Neilson. To be fair despite my initial fury about this decision, it allowed Tall to move into the middle alongside Pressley and Zaliukas replaced Brellier in the middle. The Frenchman had not looked his normal self, especially in the tackle, and overall the change gave the team a more orthodox look.

Hearts immediately seemed to have more urgency about them, particularly down the right. Neilson released Velicka shortly after coming on and the Lithuanian burst into the box before firing over a low cross that was too far in front of Hartley and McCann.

That move seemed to give Hearts more confidence and after a couple of other breaks came to nothing, they broke the deadlock with 20 minutes to go. Breaking out quickly after a Motherwell corner, Hartley fed McCann and he stroked a nice first-time ball to Jamie Mole. Mole was one-on-one with Meldrum and showed nice skill to take it around the 'keeper. Meldrum clearly fouled Mole to knock him off balance, but unlike many in the Hearts team he stayed on his feet, kept his composure and stroked the ball into the net past two defenders on the line. It was a great composed finish from the lad and it was an absolutely vital goal for Hearts.

Despite Motherwell having more possession as the game went on, it was Hearts who were looking the more dangerous and Mikoliunas should have sealed the points when played in by Hartley, but his shot flew into the side netting. To be fair to Mikoliunas, Hartley's pass was a touch over-weighted.

Craig Gordon, who had already made a fine point-blank save earlier in the half, then made an unbelievable save late on to keep Hearts in front. A long high cross was headed back across goal to Lasley and from four yards out, his header looked in all the way. Gordon however, going the wrong way, somehow got a hand up to push the ball into the air and he then got the break when it landed straight back into his arms. It was an unbelievable save though, following on from his triple save at Murrayfield on Thursday night.

So Hearts in the end ground out a vital win. It was never pretty at any point and to be quite honest, arguably one of our worst performances of the season overall. But this could yet prove to be a crucial three points and hopefully a turning point in our season.

For goodness sake though Valdas, give us at least some consistency of team selection in future. There's no need for all these changes on a weekly basis!

Star Player
Despite Craig Gordon's great saves, Ibrahim Tall takes this today for a fine display in two different positions.
Player Ratings
Gordon 8
Excellent again. Always assured and made the saves that won us the game in the end.
Tall 8
Solid at right-back and at centre-half, where he was particularly commanding in the second half.
Wallace 7
Continued from where he left off against Sparta with another assured performance at left-back.
Pressley 7
Much more like his old self, particularly as time ticked on and the backs were against the wall.
Zaliukas 5
Never looked comfortable at centre-half and didn't come onto a game until he was switched to midfield in the second.
Brellier 3
Looked out-of-sorts. Subbed just after half-time.
Cesnauskas 2
Stretchered off after half an hour after a crude challenge from Foran.
Hartley 6
Found it tough in first half when movement up front did not exist. Much better in second though and set up some good chances.
Mikoliunas 5
Was involved in the game a lot but is still too liable to hit the deck too easily. Should have hit target with late chance, but the stick he gets from the fans is not merited.
Mole 7
Took his goal really well and his confidence soared thereafter. Nearly added a second late on.
Velicka 4
Looks quick but was largely ineffective.
McCann 5
Set up Mole's goal with nice pass and put a good shift in on the left. He's just not the attacking threat he was though - the pace has gone.
McCann 5
Set up Mole's goal with nice pass and put a good shift in on the left. He's just not the attacking threat he was though - the pace has gone.
Neilson 6
Injected much needed urgency into Hearts' play and did well down the right.
Makela 4
Linked well with Mole in his short time on the park.