Motherwell 0 - 1 Hearts

EVEN if we prove to be in the death throes of another Hearts head coach, it was hard to grudge Valdas Ivanauskas this lifeline. It may ultimately prove to be a temporary reprieve for the Lithuanian, should owner Vladimir Romanov eventually wield his axe once more, but there is a defiance about this Hearts side which commands admiration.

At the final whistle the players gathered together in the centre circle for an impromptu huddle, united in adversity. With the spectre of Romanov's towering ambitions looming over them, the Tynecastle club never seem far away from a crisis. Domestically, though, they continue to keep their head above water.

This result leaves Hearts second in the Bank of Scotland Premierleague and administers a much-needed injection of confidence. If Motherwell had the best chances and the lion's share of possession, then Hearts had Craig Gordon. The Scotland No.1 made two saves near the end, one in particular from Jim Paterson which bordered on miraculous, to preserve the full points haul for his side.

"We just wanted to show everybody that we do care and we want to make this club better and go onto further success than what we have already achieved," admitted Gordon when asked about the Hearts players' huddle.
On the future of the head coach, he was unequivocal. "We want to play for this manager and I think we showed that today. No matter what, we're still fighting for not only ourselves but our supporters and our coaching staff as well."

The sweat on Ivanauskas' brow afterwards told the story of a nervy afternoon which could have ended with nothing had it not been for Jamie Mole's 69th-minute counter against the run of play. "There's been a big pressure on us for the last two weeks, and after Sparta Prague, so three points were very important," he said.

Spare a thought for Maurice Malpas. After a 4-1 filleting at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle last weekend, the Motherwell manager had to scrape the confidence of his young charges off the dressing room floor. He was successful in rousing them, though it tells you everything about their current run of luck that Malpas was forced into a defensive reshuffle inside five minutes after losing Brian McLean to medial ligament damage.

It will be a long hard season for the Premierleague's bottom-feeders, though repeat performances like this will ensure they have a fighting chance. "For anybody who was saying that we are a team in crisis, that performance should shut them up," said a defiant Malpas. "We had 99% of the chances and never scored."

Both sides' starting XIs reflected poor performances in their last games, with Hearts changing half the team who went down 2-0 to Sparta Prague. Marius Zaliukas came in beside Steven Pressley in central defence, Ibrahim Tall replaced Robbie Neilson at right-back, Deividas Cesnauskis and Saulius Mikoliunas patrolled the right and left flanks respectively and Andrius Velicka played up front.

Colin Meldrum replaced Graeme Smith in the Motherwell goal while there was a starting berth for Marc Fitzpatrick in midfield. Richie Foran was also pushed into attack in the absence of Calum Elliot, whose loan from Hearts precluded his participation.

Scott McDonald had the chance to ignite a slow-burning affair after quarter of an hour but sailed a chip a few yards over. Foran missed out on re-directing Brian Kerr's effort into the net at the back post as Motherwell attempted to drive home their superiority late in the half. In first half injury time, the inimitable Foran curled an effort wide of the far post then McDonald speared his drive over the bar.

The home side opened the second half as they ended the first and Kerr rifled a shot well over Gordon's bar.
The home side were in control, but then came the sucker punch. Fitzpatrick lost a challenge in his own half and the ball was shuttled out to Neil McCann on the left flank. He made ground and picked out Mole.

With the home defence caught square, the 18-year-old skipped round Meldrum and stabbed the ball home with his right foot. The home side should then have equalised in the 82nd minute, Stephen Craigan's long throw in from the left reached the raiding Keith Lasley who slammed in a shot from point-blank range which was brilliantly saved by Gordon.

Mikoliunas fired an effort wide soon after, before Gordon saved his side once more. Steven McGarry swept a cross to the back post, Foran hooked it back into the mixer and Paterson directed an effort goalwards. Gordon, going the wrong way, instinctively jabbed his hand to block and then gathered the rebound.
It was a save worthy of winning a game and, seconds later, it had done.

Taken from the Herald