Motherwell manager's stock on rise but familiar problem hurting Hearts

HEARTS 1
Driver (12)

MOTHERWELL 2
Porter (53), Zaliukas og (66)

ONE team at Tynecastle on Saturday had a manager in sole control of team selection which has hardly wavered since the opening day of the season. The other were nominally fronted by an assistant head coach at the mercy of the weekly whim of an absentee landlord in Lithuania.

No prizes for guessing which one finished the afternoon in third place in the SPL table, just four points behind leaders Celtic, and which one slipped a further nine points adrift in the bottom half of the table.

The hugely impressive work being carried out by Mark McGhee in charge of Motherwell this season has been underpinned by the continuity of just 13 players featuring in his SPL starting line-up so far.

By way of contrast, debutant goalkeeper Eduardas Kurskis became the 24th player to be named in a Hearts first 11 in the current league campaign by club owner Vladimir Romanov's scattergun selection policy. The numbers just aren't adding up for the Gorgie club, who have now dropped 15 points in their last seven SPL games.

Exasperation was etched on the features of Stephen Frail as he yet again faced the media after this defeat to be quizzed on issues over which he has absolutely no control or authority. There was a wistful envy in the voice of the Hearts assistant coach when it was put to him that the success currently being enjoyed by McGhee's team owes a great deal to consistency in playing personnel. "It could be a factor," agreed Frail. "I think it helps when you can do that or deem to do it. It is working for Motherwell, that's all I can say. We got a good result against Celtic last week and then we change it today."

But if this was yet another afternoon which highlighted the flaws of Hearts' managerial set-up, nothing should detract from another excellent result for a Motherwell side who merit their elevated position in the table. McGhee's determination to prove his managerial talent in his homeland is reaping a rich dividend for the Fir Park club, who must now hope the impact he has made does not prompt an approach from the SFA for the vacant Scotland job.

Stephen Hughes, the former Rangers midfielder who chose to join his home town club instead of Hearts when he returned to Scotland from Leicester City earlier this season, summed up the mood of the Motherwell players who have responded so positively to McGhee's management.

"He has done a fantastic job here and he has a lot of experience," said Hughes. "I can understand why he is being linked with the Scotland job, but in our dressing room we all hope someone else gets it and that the gaffer stays with us. He is great to work for, we are all enjoying it."

McGhee was less than impressed with his players in the first half as they fell behind in the 12th minute to an Andrew Driver volley from Andrius Velicka's cross. .

"I was surprised and disappointed by my team in the first half because I felt they looked intimidated by Hearts," said McGhee. "They looked as if they felt they were not as good as Hearts and I had to tell them that at half time. It's the first time I've had to have a go at them for a while, but they responded brilliantly."

Switching from his favoured 4-3-3 formation to a 4-4-2 which allowed central midfielders Hughes and Phil O'Donnell to become far more influential, McGhee saw his team run out worthy winners in a second half played in a mini snowstorm as they displayed more cohesion and conviction than the home side.

Motherwell equalised eight minutes after the restart when Hearts full-back Jose Goncalves contrived to head back towards his own goal from a Hughes cross. David Clarkson hooked the ball across for Chris Porter to nod home from close range.

Hearts were guilty of sloppy defending once more at Motherwell's winner, Steven McGarry's cross from the right thumped back across the face of the goal by the unmarked McCormack to force an own goal off the unfortunate Marius Zaliukas. Eggert Jonsson almost levelled immediately for Hearts with a long-range effort which struck the crossbar, but Motherwell were good value for their sixth away win of the campaign. Not that McGhee is about to be seduced by the possibilities of their current league placing.

"We will continue to look over our shoulders until the last phase of the season," he said. "Maybe then we can start to think about what's ahead of us. Of all the wins we have had so far, this is probably the most significant. It's a big lesson for our players. It showed them they shouldn't fear anyone. It is something to remember when we come back here in a few weeks to play Hearts in the Scottish Cup."
Man of the match

Stephen Hughes (Motherwell)

Even in the most treacherous of underfoot conditions, the former Scotland under-21 international midfielder was able to give himself time and space on the ball. He displayed a level of poise and passing ability which suggests he can still fulfil the potential he showed as a teenager.

Referee: C Thomson

Attendance: 16,633

Taken from the Scotsman