Motherwell 0 Hearts 2

FINALLY, a modicum of common sense. Not from a referee, that would be expecting too much. But from Hearts, who reverted to an orthodox 4-4-2 formation last night to secure a precious first league victory of the season.

It would be easy to become distracted by the inefficiencies of referee Charlie Richmond, but deeper analysis of this game provided the realisation that Hearts were influenced by the beat of an African drum, with their Ghanaian midfielder and Senegalese defender thumping loudest. Whilst Larry Kingston orchestrated attacks, scored the first goal and created the second, Ibrahim Tall defied the opposition time and again in central defence.

There was even another corner-flag jig from Kingston in celebration of his first-half opener, a dance conceived in his native Accra and given its first public showing in Stirling last week. Vladimir Romanov might be attempting to Dance With A Star in Lithuania, but his nimbleness is unlikely to rival that of his talismanic No10.

Both Kingston and Tall fitted snugly into a more recognised 4-4-2 system as Hearts coach Angel Chervenkov finally relented on his persistence with 4-5-1. The Bulgarian may not make a more sensible or worthwhile decision in his managerial career. Perhaps he's been perusing the Evening News sports pages since the season started ...

Whatever inspired the change, it had the desired effect.

Kingston scored the first goal with a raking left-footed drive and then cushioned the ball into the path of substitute Andrius Velicka in stoppage time for a clinically taken second.

The Ghanaian's performance, and that of Tall, stood as a perfect rebuke at alleged racial abuse from sections of the Motherwell support.

The evening was peppered with errors from Richmond as several stonewall penalties were refused, leaving the visitors, in particular, banging their collective heads off said stone wall.

Romanov's recent statement regarding punching a referee in the face becomes a touch more understandable following last night's officiating.

But, with the first league victory in the bag, Hearts departed for Lithuania today for a nine-day training camp under the owner's watchful eye.

Whilst Kingston was unquestionably the creative architect behind the triumph, overlooking three crucial interceptions from Tall would be criminal. The defender arrived at times from nowhere to execute blocking tackles on Steven McGarry, Keith Lasley and Ross McCormack, all in the act of shooting. The interventions secured three points for Hearts as much as anything.

"I don't think we played particularly well but I was really delighted with the commitment level shown by everyone," said assistant coach Stephen Frail.

"We had last-ditch tackles and everyone was fighting for each other.

"That and the clean sheet were the biggest things to come out of it for me. A lot has been made of this team spirit issue and I don't hear it spoken about with any other clubs. Maybe it's because we have all the different nationalities but we knew it had dipped a bit.

"I'm not saying we've got it back but I think last night showed they are willing to fight for each other and the club.

"I just wish we were playing next week but it's two weeks now to the next game. We can take stock on what we have and make sure we build on what was a pleasing performance and a great result."

Frail's assessment of Richmond's display was decidedly short and sweet. "I don't want to comment on referees but I'm not overly fussed of the bookings we get. We got six, they got one. Draw your own conclusions on that one," he said.

Motherwell finished the match somewhat aggrieved without a goal to show for their efforts. Mark McGhee is utilising an attacking 4-3-3 formation this season which allowed his team to pressurise their visitors for long periods and a solid debut by Stephen Hughes allowed the manager to maintain optimism for the future.

"We have been practising what we're doing but it didn't come off," explained McGhee. "That's not because we're not working. I'm confident that pretty soon we'll give someone a doing. The referee had a couple of decisions to make and both times he might have given penalties but didn't. He didn't lose us the game, that's for sure."

Motherwell were the first beneficiaries of Richmond's incompetence on ten minutes when David Clarkson barged Audrius Ksanavicius from behind in the penalty area. The official dismissed some vehement protests from the visitors, who had nonetheless signalled their intent.

Christian Nade made a tidy Hearts debut alongside Calum Elliot in attack, whilst Kingston operated wide on the right of midfield - his favoured position and the one he fills for Ghana coach Claude Le Roy. After Tall's first saving tackle on McGarry, Kingston drifted inside from the right flank to devastating effect. He collected the ball midway inside the opposition half and drove instantly towards the penalty area. A jink past Stephen Craigan and a glorious left-footed shot, and Hearts were 1-0 ahead. Then came the jig, which Tynecastle supporters are never likely to tire of. It was the second time they had seen it inside six days following the player's strike at Stirling.

The visitors couldn't enjoy the advantage, however. Their defence suddenly began to look fragile, with the exception of Tall, and Motherwell seized on the uncertainty to fashion two glaring opportunities. McCormack's left-sided cross reached McGarry on the opposite flank and his cutback found Keith Lasley perfectly placed six yards out. But Tall was in defiant mood and executed another perfect intercepting tackle.

From the resultant corner Clarkson collected to tee up O'Donnell but the midfielder could do nothing as the ball rebounded off his shin and rolled wide.

Hearts again appealed in vain for a penalty shortly after the restart when O'Donnell challenged Elliot from behind, but Richmond allowed play to continue. Motherwell moved upfield to create another opening, this time for McCormack just six yards from goal. However, once again, it was Tall showing excellent positional awareness to preserve his side's lead with a strong and timely intervention.

It became clear at that juncture that Hearts were in the fight of their lives against competitors equally as determined and robust. McCormack - from a free-kick - and Ksanavicius both unleashed shots from distance amid patches of fragmented play and late challenges.

There were a further two legitimate looking penalty claims before Velicka's decisive second goal, although Richmond gazed impassively at both. Velicka appeared to foul Phil O'Donnell in the Hearts penalty area before Kingston was floored by Paul Quinn's challenge from behind at the opposite end.

The Ghanaian rose to his feet just in time to play Christophe Berra's pass into Velicka's path, and the Lithuanian lofted the ball high beyond goalkeeper Graeme Smith and into the net to ensure victory.

Howls of "cheat" rained down on the referee from Fir Park regulars as he left the field. For once, Hearts didn't care. Victory has that kind of effect.

Taken from the Scotsman