Motherwell 0 Hearts 2

By Gavin McCafferty, PA Sport

Motherwell were undone by two crosses as Hearts kept alive their slim hopes of a Champions League place.

Ibrahim Tall headed the opener towards the end of an uninspiring first half and Stephen Craigan's own goal helped put Hearts seven points behind second-placed Rangers in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

The home side improved after the break but found the Hearts defence in impressive form and had two efforts cleared off the line.

Interim Hearts head coach Anatoly Korobochka made five changes as he deputised for Valdas Ivanauskas, who has been away on "football business" for more than a fortnight.

He brought in debutant Linas Pilibaitis, Kestutis Ivaskevicius, Lee Wallace, Edgaras Jankauskas and Calum Elliot.

Motherwell - without the suspended Scott McDonald - handed a debut to Krisztian Vadocz and recalled David Clarkson and Darren Smith.

Both teams held up posters from 'Show Racism the Red Card' before the game as Motherwell continued to take a stand against the small group who abused St Johnstone striker Jason Scotland during last week's Scottish Cup defeat.

Tall made a superb last-ditch block from Ross McCormack but chances were scarce in the opening quarter amid driving wind and rain.

It took three bookings in two minutes to liven up proceedings with Well pair Brian Kerr and Craigan and Ivaskevicius punished for late tackles.

The first shot at goal came in the 21st minute when Pilibaitis flashed a 20-yard effort just wide.

Jim Paterson missed a great chance for Well moments later after being played clear by McCormack.

The midfielder was forced wide as he took the ball round Craig Gordon and ran it out as the unmarked Smith waited in the middle.

Hearts stepped up a gear and Driver shot over from 20 yards after good work from Elliot, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Fir Park.

The teenage striker was determined to impress after an undistinguished spell in Lanarkshire and set up Driver seconds later, but Graeme Smith came off his line to block.

Hearts took the lead from the resulting 37th-minute corner when Tall nipped in before the keeper to head home Laryea Kingston's cross at the near post.

McCormack's clever chip found Clarkson in space as Well tried to hit back but the striker's lay-off did not allow Darren Smith to meet it at full speed and his 20-yard strike sailed into Gordon's hands.

Corrigan was booked for a late tackle on Driver before both sides made changes at half-time, with Kevin McBride coming for Kerr and Michal Pospisil replacing Jankauskas.

Pospisil skewed wide from a good chance within two minutes but Well at last began to show the reaction manager Maurice Malpas had ordered after their cup exit.

The home fans screamed for a penalty when Clarkson fell under pressure from Christophe Berra, 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.

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

But Hearts doubled the lead in the 66th minute when Craigan headed Kingston's near-post cross in off his own bar under intense pressure from Elliot.

Pilibaitis was booked for a bad challenge on Well sub Trevor Molloy as the hosts continued to push forward.

However, Berra and Marius Zaliukas were on top form in central defence and substitute Tomas Kancelsku nipped in to stop Clarkson when McCormack did find a way past them.

And Kancelsku soon cleared Well's last chance off the line after Mark Reynolds had flicked on a cross.

McCormack was booked for catching Gordon late as he tried to play for time and the Scotland keeper was booked for taking too long over the free-kick.

Driver chipped weakly into Smith's arms when presented with a great chance in the dying seconds.

Teams:

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 Scotsman