Motherwell's steely resolve denies Hearts

MOTHERWELL 2
Porter (64, 78)
THE Scottish Cup is no place for softies. The very nature of the journey to Hampden, each stage obstructed by a would-be saboteur, demands hardiness, endurance, an imperishable sense of purpose and no little guile.

When two teams in possession of all of these elements collide, the result is the kind of match at Tynecastle that kept 13,651 spectators in thrall for the entire 90 minutes. By the end of a captivating contest, the only empty seats in the house were those that had been unoccupied from the start.

The most curmudgeonly of nit-pickers might argue that, ultimately, Hearts lacked the ruthlessness to exploit the two-goal lead they had established early in the second half. But that would be a back-handed insult to the resilience and improvisation of Motherwell. Both of these endlessly watchable combatants took from this fourth-round tie precisely what they deserved – a replay at Fir Park a week tomorrow.

Those who believe in an afterlife will be convinced that Phil O'Donnell, around whose memory the match revolved – even the host club's programme was dedicated to the late Motherwell captain – had arranged an outcome that would leave all who were there deeply gratified. The infidels would take the view that it was simply a fitting tribute to an estimable man.

Planning a strategy that will bring victory in the return will be a problem for two managers who would learn nothing from this joust they did not already know. For the Hearts coach, Stevie Frail, however, there is the ongoing worry over which side of his team's multi-faceted personality they will show in the replay.

On this occasion, it was the forceful, committed, often sweet-moving unit who had blown Rangers away in a Premier League match at Tynecastle back in September. That is, the authentic contenders for honours who have been seen too rarely through this mystifying and frustrating season.

Indeed, such was the application to their work and the energy they brought to the earliest stages of the game that the home support would have been entitled to dream of a repeat of that day against the present league leaders, when they led 4-1 before a final score of 4-2.

The tempo Hearts established from the outset seemed to distract Motherwell, perhaps a little rusty as a result of the two weeks of inactivity since the match against Dundee United in which O'Donnell collapsed.

Mark McGhee's side this season have also demonstrated a preference for a more cerebral approach, featuring intelligent and fluent movement and precise passing.

They appeared to be almost disorientated by the home team's aggressiveness. And when Hearts showed that they also lacked nothing in subtlety by the way they constructed and finished their opening goal, there was every reason to believe they would progress to the fifth round.

It was an incisive pass from Andrew Driver that released Audrius Ksanavicius on the left side of the penalty area and, when the Lithuanian's centre flew straight to his countryman, Deividas Cesnauskis, the latter first-timed the volley from 12 yards far to the right of Graeme Smith, the Motherwell goalkeeper, and in off the post.

While the rest of the first half may have appeared generally well-balanced, Hearts still seemed more in control – and certainly the more dangerous when moving forward. And when Andrius Velicka took a flick from Michael Stewart – from a long kick-out by goalkeeper Eduardas Kurskis – and slipped past Mark Reynolds before rounding goalkeeper Smith and sliding the ball over the line, victory seemed assured just seven minutes into the second period.

The impression proved to be illusory as Motherwell, refusing to capitulate and finding their own rhythm, began to move forward with menace. Stephen Hughes and Keith Lasley became more imposing in midfield, an area previously overseen by Driver, Stewart and Ruben Palazuelos, and Ross McCormack, reverting to a more forward role after starting in a slot behind Chris Porter and David Clarkson in attack, became more threatening.

Both the visitors' goals were beautifully made, the first a bewildering series of passes at pace that merited applause even from the Hearts fans.

Hughes played the ball forward to Lasley, who, on the edge of the penalty area and with his back to goal, flicked the chip to McCormack on the left.

The low centre from McCormack was so precisely placed that Porter, totally unmarked as the ball had passed all potential interceptors on its way across the six-yard box, had merely to stab it over the line. The equaliser began with Hughes's forward chip to McCormack, who headed down to Lasley, this time on the right of the penalty box.

The cross, knee-high, once again was sent to Porter, who hooked his volley past Kurskis.

Hearts' biggest regret would be the chance missed by Ksanavicius to give the home side a 3-0 lead, unchallenged as he headed a cross from the right into the ground and over the bar when it seemed unmissable.

But this glimpse of the most appealing aspect of their nature was enough to encourage Frail in the belief that they are on their way back to a more acceptable level of form than that which recently saw them lose six successive league games.

"Of course, it was a disappointment to lose the goals and we probably missed our best chance at 2-0 with that header from Audrius," he said. "But there were tiny signs of progress and that things are getting back as we want them to be."

Men of the match: Andrew Driver (Hearts) and Ross McCormack (Motherwell)

In an endlessly entertaining match that produced innumerable contenders, it seems reasonable - perhaps even obligatory – to pick one from each side. The young Hearts midfielder and the Motherwell forward personified the high level of performance of their respective teams.

Referee: S Dougal
Attendance: 13,651

Taken from the Scotsman