Motherwell 1

Fyssas 9, Quinn 55 OG, Velicka 58, Aguiar 64

Foran 19

ON an afternoon when absent owner Vladimir Romanov imposed his iron rule on the club even further, there was even a Baltic edge to the temperature as Hearts grasped their first win in 10 games. Three second half goals blunted any crowd reaction to the expected termination of captain Steven Pressley's contract later in the evening.

The armband passed on this occasion to goalkeeper Craig Gordon with fellow internationalist Paul Hartley suspended and another Scotland player, Robbie Neilson, dropped to the bench after ending the previous Saturday's game against St Mirren as captain. Who knows what Gordon's fate will be now.
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Motherwell started poorly and finished the match in a dishevelled manner as Hearts took advantage of their huge squad to get back to winning ways.

According to the chairman, Roman Romanov, who was given a full page in the club programme to write just 15 words, full recovery is possible. "The cure might be painful, but at least we have the diagnosis. Enjoy the game, " he said enigmatically.

As usual this season, he wasn't present to explain.

With nobody else at the club prepared to discuss the Pressley situation after the game, Ivanauskas was able to stonewall questions about his former captain and instead repeatedly express his satisfaction at winning the three points.
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"I'm happy with the result, but more happy with the performance." he said. "We created a lot of chances. Nine games without a win is a negative story in Hearts Football Club and very hard for the players."

Motherwell manager Maurice Malpas said: "I was disappointed with the way we played and the result. We were a bit hesitant today and the first 15 minutes of the second half killed us."

With Gordon leading the team out and presiding over the pre- match huddle, Hearts started at a brisk pace while Motherwell, despite their recent good results, looked tentative. Ibraham Tall was just wide with a shot but the early pattern was quickly borne out with a goal.

It was a cracker too, beautifully constructed and finished. Neil McCann, who looks set to win his first run in the side since returning to Tynecastle, sent a clever ball to Takis Fyssas in the box. The Greek international left back then sent a wonderful shot behind Colin Meldrum for his first Hearts goal midway through his second season.

The home side continued to look much the better outfit and always seemed odds-on to win their first three points since the opening day of October.

The left flank, with Fyssas often pushing even further ahead than McCann, was working slickly, but it was Hearts' keenness to exploit this sharpness which cost them an equaliser which was as unmerited as it was unexpected.

Gordon had been a spectator up until the 19th minute, so it was little surprise that he and his defence were caught cold by a well- orchestrated Motherwell break.

It was three against three as David Clarkson ran the ball up the right before sending a low pass to Richie Foran, who beat the Hearts captain for his 11th goal of a productive season.

That transformed the visitors, allowing an entertaining and red- blooded contest in which the constant niggling between Foran and Saulius Mikoliunas set the tone.

Fyssas, having scored his first goal for the club, had an audacious attempt for a second when, after Meldrum had raced out of his box to make a clearance, the Greek defender launched a shot from the half-way line much as his ancestors had the javelin. It easily had the distance, but drifted wide.

Hearts were still the more dangerous side, without giving any evidence of the firepower which emerged in the second half. When that period began Motherwell were very much still in the hunt; by the 64th minute they'd turned into the prey.

Hearts' second, which arrived nine minutes earlier, was hard for the visitors to swallow. Paul Quinn was booked for a foul on Fyssas which the home player made a meal of, and when Bruno Aguiar sent the resultant freekick into the visitors' box the very luckless Quinn headed the ball past his own goalkeeper. Later Malpas said he didn't even think the initial challenge was a foul, but the booking will cost Quinn a suspension.

Aguiar was again the provider for the third, which was taken very coolly by Andrius Velicka. The Lithuanian striker burst past Motherwell central defenders Mark Reynolds and Stephen Craigan to take a couple of touches to control Aguiar's through ball before sending a composed finish past Meldrum for his seventh goal of the season.

If Motherwell weren't floored by that, they hit the deck six minutes later, after a second Motherwell player, James Paterson, had been yellow-carded for a foul.

Aguiar's free-kick went directly into Meldrum's net from 30 yards. Aguiar is no Paul Hartley at these setpieces, but the suspended Scotland midfielder, watching from the main stand, would have liked that one.

The prospect of a certain three points mollified the Hearts support, and they could even excuse some glaring misses from Michal Pospisil, a particularly shocking one from McCann, and two from the owner's favourite, Mikoliunas, as the clock ran down on a demoralised Motherwell.

Entertainment value: A very good first half after Motherwell equalised, and some good goals for the Hearts supporters.

Man of the match: Hearts midfielder Bruno Aguiar, who supplied the ammunition for the second and third Hearts goals before scoring the fourth himself.

Talking point: Was the imminent departure of Steven Pressley going to affect the atmosphere? Thanks to Hearts' strong display it didn't.

Valdas Ivanauskas: "I'm happy with the result, but more happy with the performance."

Maurice Malpas: "I'll probably get into trouble, but I didn't think it was a foul leading up to their second goal."

REF WATCH Craig Mackay didn't have a great performance as he struggled to keep up with all the fouls.

Hearts

Gordon Barasa Tall Zaliukas Fyssas Mikoliunas Brellier Aguiar McCann Jankauskas Velicka Subs: Pospisil for Jankauskas 72, Mole for Velicka 76, Driver for McCann 81.

Not used: Banks, Goncalves, Karipidis, Neilson.

Booked: Barasa 36, Aguiar 51.

Motherwell

Meldrum Quinn Craigan Reynolds Paterson McGarry Corrigan Kerr Foran Clarkson McDonald Subs: Fitzpatrick for McGarry 70, Smith for Corrigan 79.

Not used: G Smith, McCormack, Kinniburgh, Connolly, Coakle.

Booked: Quinn 55, Paterson 64.
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Referee: C Mackay.

Attendance: 16,073.