Hearts 1-2 Motherwell

Andrew Driver gave Hearts an early lead when he converted an Andrius Velicka cross after just 12 minutes.

New keeper Eduardas Kurskis kept the home side ahead at the interval with a string of fine saves as Well pressed.

But Motherwell emerged victorious from a hard-fought tussle thanks to Chris Porter's 53rd minute header and an own goal from Hearts'Marius Zaliukas.

Interview: Hearts assistant coach Stevie Frail Interview: Motherwell manager Mark McGhee

The home side were first to threaten when Driver hooked an early effort over the bar from the left side of the box.

Motherwell's first chance was a Ross McCormack effort, stemming from Stephen Hughes' ball into the box, which met the same fate.

Then Hearts took the lead from a vibrant move after only 12 minutes.

Velicka burst down the right flank and fired the ball across the penalty box, where Driver pounced to smash a diagonal volley low past Graeme Smith.

McCormack sidefooted over the bar from just outside the box after a Motherwell break on 17 minutes, but the rest of the first quarter was largely a dour midfield battle.

Smith made an excellent stop to prevent Velicka doubling Hearts' lead on the half hour mark, bravely blocking the striker's close-range effort.

At the other end new home keeper Kurskis leapt spectacularly to fingertip the ball over the bar after Stephen Craigan's header spun wildly off Zaliukas' foot.

Minutes later the Lithuanian snatched the ball away from the on-rushing David Clarkson in the six-yard box.

Motherwell started the second-half strongly and drew level after 53 minutes through Porter.

McCormack won a corner on the left and played it on to Hughes, whose cross was allowed to reach Clarkson.

He in turn fired it through the crowded box towards Porter who headed home from close range.

The midfield war of attrition resumed as both sides attempted to gain the upper hand in treacherous conditions.

Hearts introduced Christian Nade just after the hour but he missed the opportunity to make an instant impact, narrowly failing to connect with a Michael Stewart through ball.

Instead, it was Mark McGhee's men who took the lead midway through the second half.

Steven McGarry did well to keep the ball in play at the right byline and crossed to the far post, where McCormack turned it towards the net from close range.

It looked goal-bound but the final touch came from the foot of the hapless Zaliukas as he tried to clear on the line.

Hearts' Eggert Jonsson hit the bar just a minute after the visitors' goal and then shot just over as the game entered its final 15 minutes.

The home side dominated possession late on but saw a 20-yard free-kick from Stewart drift harmlessly onto the roof of the net and Well held on for their fourth SPL win in a row.

Hearts: Kurskis, Neilson, Zaliukas, Berra, Goncalves, Mikoliunas (Nade 62), Stewart, Jonsson (Ivaskevicius 83), Driver, Ksanavicius, Velicka (Elliot 78). Subs Not Used: Basso, Wallace, Tall, Palazuelos.

Booked: Ksanavicius, Goncalves.

Goals: Driver 12.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Reynolds, Craigan, Paterson, O'Donnell, Hughes, McGarry, Clarkson, Porter, McCormack. Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Corrigan, Brian McLean, Lasley, Fitzpatrick, Darren Smith, Murphy.

Booked: Paterson, Hughes.

Goals: Porter 53, Zaliukas 67 og.

Att: 16,633

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).

Taken from the BBC