Hearts made to sweat as league drought ends

MOTHERWELL 0

HEARTS 2 Kingston (24), Velicka (90)

WINNING ugly can be a good thing if winning is a novelty, and so it proved for Hearts last night. The goals which gave them their first league victory in five attempts were just about the only quality touches of football they displayed, but their willingness to fight to the end of an undistinguished encounter was the key difference between this match and their four previous fixtures.

Laryea Kingston was outshone at times by Stephen Hughes, but he made his talent tell, scoring the first midway through the opening 45 minutes, then laying on the second for substitute Andrius Velicka in stoppage time. Hearts have still a lot to do even to prove themselves credible candidates for the top six, but this was at least a modest step in the right direction.

Both teams made some use of their transfer-window acquisitions, though it was obvious last night that, in addition to adding new blood to their squads, they also have to freshen up the play of the rest of their team too.

Stephen Hughes, who had been a target for Hearts, lined up in midfield for his Motherwell debut, as Mark McGhee persisted with the 4-3-3 formation which had yielded three wins from the first four league fixtures. The home club's other recent recruit, Lewis Grabban, began the match on the bench.

After persisting home and away with the 4-5-1 formation favoured by their assistant coach Angel Cerenkov, Hearts were back to their more familiar 4-4-2, with new signing Christian Nade being joined by Calum Elliot up front. But the reversion to a midfield quartet, although logical in principle, was still puzzling in some respects.

Marius Zaliukas, whose central defensive partnership with Christophe Berra has been one of the more successful elements of Hearts' play this year, was out of position in the holding midfield role in order to accommodate Ibrahim Tall. Kingston ostensibly played wide right, a position hardly designed to get the best out of his considerable ability, though in practice he was able to cut inside, much to Motherwell's discomfort as it turned out. Michael Stewart and Audrius Ksanavicius were at least in their accustomed positions in the middle and on the left respectively.

As could have been predicted from their differing form, Motherwell began in more confident mood than their visitors, winning the bulk of the 50-50 balls with Hearts a shade off the pace. It was the Edinburgh team who created the first scoring chance, however, when Robbie Neilson surged down the right and crossed for Elliot. Having felt himself harshly treated when on loan at Fir Park last season, Elliot was eager to make an impact on his return, but he directed his header straight at Graeme Smith, allowing the goalkeeper to block.

By then Ksanavicius had seen a penalty claim denied after he had gone down under a challenge, and Hearts drew encouragement from being able to get into the opposition box. Hughes was beginning to look sharp, however, and on a couple of occasions came close to creating a good opening. But, just as it seemed Motherwell had regained the ascendancy, Hearts took the lead. Picking up a knocked-down header in the middle of the park, Kingston forged his way up the pitch then from outside the box unleashed a low drive which Smith could not get down to in time.

The Ghanaian international had scored a couple of goals like that last season, and the lesson for Motherwell should have been plain: do not let him advance unopposed on the box. Having committed that error, they at least set about trying to repair the damage quickly, and on two or three occasions came close to walking the ball into the Hearts net only to be thwarted at the last moment. Tall became the first name in the book for a foul just after the half-hour mark, though Elliot had been lucky not to precede him much earlier after an off-the-ball tussle with Phil O'Donnell. Shortly before the break Berra was fortunate not to become the second name in referee Charlie Richmond's book after remonstrating needlessly, apparently over a decision which had been given in his team's favour in any case.

Within two minutes of the restart Hearts had another, stronger penalty claim, with this time Elliot going down in the box. Again, though, the referee waved play on.

Having benefited from that let-off, Motherwell forcefully resumed their search for an equaliser. McGarry had a scoring opportunity at the end of a swift move which saw Zaliukas's lack of positional awareness exposed, but the striker did not make a good contact and his shot was easily gathered by Steve Banks.

Motherwell brought Chris Porter on for Keith Lasley in a bid to strengthen their grip on midfield, but Hearts decided the need was for greater firepower up front, and replaced the tiring Nade with their leading goalscorer from last season, Andrius Velicka.

As the game began to lose its shape, Jim Paterson became the first Motherwell player to be cautioned after following through on Robbie Neilson. The full-back briefly required treatment, and before he was back on the pitch Hearts had made their second change of the evening, with Ruben Palazuelos replacing Stewart. Neilson himself was then booked for re-entering the field of play without permission, and was swiftly followed by Elliot, for dissent.

There had been more bookings than clear chances by this time, an indication of the paucity of the football on show. Hughes had impressed with his crisp passing and intelligent running, but the tense, niggly nature of the occasion had had an adverse effect on too many players. Midway through the half a free-kick from Ross McCormack made its way untouched through a ruck of players but flew wide of the far post. Palazuelos was then booked for simulation, before Ksanavicius was put through down the right by Velicka but took too long, allowing his shot to be blocked. Five minutes from time Porter almost equalised, but Banks got a hand to his low shot. Zaliukas was booked for a tackle from behind as Hearts fought to hold on to their lead, and when four minutes of added time were announced Motherwell upped their efforts again. But it was Hearts who had the last word, when, after being put through by Kingston, Velicka dinked the ball over Smith to secure the three points.
MAN OF THE MATCH

Laryea Kingston (Hearts)

Over the piece Motherwell's Stephen Hughes was a more consistent performer in midfield, but the Ghanaian made the difference when it mattered. He conjured his team's lead out of nothing with a direct run into the box and a low left-foot strike, then wrapped up the three points by providing the pass for Andrius Velicka's goal.

Taken from the Scotsman