Motherwell 0-2 Hearts

Eight players were booked in a scrappy affair, but the visitors were worthy of the points after an impressive display.

Jim Paterson missed a good chance early on for Well and Hearts punished them with the opener in the 37th minute.

Ibrahim Tall headed home from Laryea Kingston's corner, and Well's luckless Stephen Craigan headed an own goal past Graeme Smith after 68 minutes.

Hearts made five changes for the visit to a rain-lashed Fir Park.

New interim head coach Anatoly Korobochka - Valdas Ivanauskas' replacement - brought in debutant Linas Pilibaitis, Kestutis Ivaskevicius, Lee Wallace, Edgaras Jankauskas and Elliot.

Korobochka stepped in last week amid the uncertainty over Ivanauskas, who has been away from the club for more than a fortnight on "football business".

Well, meanwhile, handed a debut to on-loan Hungarian international midfielder Krisztian Vadocz as they made three changes from the side that slumped to defeat against St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.

Creativity was at a premium in the opening spells despite both sides striving to pass the ball amid poor conditions.

Craigan was harshly cautioned as Elliot went down and Ivaskevicius also received a yellow card for a high - and late - challenge on Clarkson.

Pilibaitis burst forward and had the first shot at goal in the 21st minute but his 20-yard effort flashed just wide.

Paterson missed the Steelmen's best chance of the first half moments later after being played clear by Murphy.

The midfielder elected to take the ball around Craig Gordon but was forced wide and ran it out of play with the unmarked Smith waiting in the middle.

The Edinburgh club took the lead when Tall nipped in before the keeper to head home Kingston's corner from the left at the near post, with a trio of Well defenders failing to mark.

Hearts' Laryea Kingston
Laryea Kingston shows his delight following Hearts' second goal

After the restart, the increasingly influential Kingston found substitute Michel Pospisil - who replaced Jankauskas at the break - with an angled pass, but the Czech forward could only shoot tamely wide of Smith's goal.

The home fans screamed for a penalty when Clarkson fell under pressure from Christophe Berra as they chased a long ball, but referee Stuart Dougal penalised the striker for handball.

Vadocz shot straight at Gordon from just inside the box but Hearts were still dangerous - and Murphy just got away with a failed attempt to chest the ball back to his keeper as Ivaskevicius lingered.

Kingston cleared Clarkson's header off the line after a Paterson corner and McCormack shot over under pressure after a good passing move.

Maurice Malpas' men were struggling to impose themselves on the well-organised visitors, and it was no surprise when Hearts added a second, with Kingston involved once more.

The Ghanaian swept along the right flank and delivered a superb cross towards Elliot.

But as Northern Ireland defender Craigan challenged Elliot he only succeeded in heading the ball past his own keeper from six yards.

The Edinburgh club had a firm grip on proceedings with the two-goal cushion, but Malpas urged his side forward in the latter stages.

Motherwell's increased desire almost paid off when Kingston cleared a Mark Reynolds effort off the line in the 85th minute.

It was to no avail for the Lanarkshire outfit, however, as the Jam Tarts collected all three points.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, Reynolds, Murphy (Molloy 63), Darren Smith, Kerr (McBride 46), Vadocz, Paterson, Clarkson, McCormack.
Subs Not Used: Martin, Keegan, McGarry, Quinn, Fitzpatrick.

Booked: Kerr, Craigan, Corrigan, McCormack.

Hearts: Gordon, Wallace, Berra, Tall (Kancelsku 76), Zaliukas, Ivaskevicius (Jonsson 65), Driver, Kingston, Pilibaitis, Elliot, Jankauskas (Pospisil 46).
Subs Not Used: Banks, Fyssas, Glen, Mackie.

Booked: Ivaskevicius, Elliot, Pilibaitis, Gordon.

Goals: Tall 37, Craigan 66 og.

Att: 4,389

Ref: S Dougal (Scotland).

Taken from the BBC