Hearts 2 - 2 Motherwell

A faint dusting of frost decorating Tynecastle's playing surface belied the warmth generated during a profoundly memorable Scottish Cup tie. There was ample poignancy in remembrance of Phil O'Donnell, the Motherwell captain who died on his shield two weeks ago, but the applause, the reflection and mutual appreciation made not for sterile entertainment.

If the visitors' early arrears can be attributed to emotional toil then a sense of duty to their leader can be cited for a comeback that brought a lump to the throat. Hearts had little option but to be pragmatic about their eventual pegging-back. A valiant recovery was Motherwell's destiny, inspired as they were by the crackling wall of claret and amber in the Roseburn Stand.

Mark McGhee, even as his team escaped the concession of a conclusive third goal, preserved a look of serenity. Defeat would have been forgiven under the circumstances but the energy and sheer will power expended in salvaging a replay said more about his team than any of the intricate tapestries woven.

Ross McCormack was the master craftsman. Rangers' loss in dispensing of the talented forward has been Motherwell's gain. At his current rate of development, it might also soon be Middlesbrough and Scotland's. Gareth Southgate is in dire need of inspiration near the foot of the Barclays Premier League and has seen potential salvation in the young Scot. It would not be beyond the realms of possibility for McCormack and McGhee to unite for the national cause.
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On a prankster of a pitch, McCormack was alone in avoiding embarrassment. The ball stuck to him as though coated in Velcro, his nimble feet made fools of many a cumbersome challenger and his appetite was ravenous. Motherwell, despite conceding two goals, did not have a failure in their number. Keith Lasley, in the unenviable role as O'Donnell's replacement in central midfield, overcame his initial hesitancy to provide a solid and reliable foundation for Motherwell's compelling brand of football.

Paul Quinn performed his new responsibilities as captain with understated maturity.

The right-back later conveyed the sentiments of the dressing room with the assuredness of a natural leader. Stephen Craigan, even accounting for McCormack's brilliance, undertook all the inherited requirements of being the new senior figure in a young and vibrant side. The Northern Ireland centre back was heroically defiant; a ubiquitous presence when the going got tough in front of Graeme Smith.

Special praise should also be reserved for David Clarkson. As his manager noted afterwards, the willowy striker did not have a vintage display but the courage, focus and determination demonstrated by O'Donnell's nephew is a tribute to the young man. He was last off the pitch after the visiting team acclaimed their relentless supporters Hearts' contribution to a thrilling show should not be underestimated. Andrius Velicka enhanced his growing reputation with yet another powerful performance. He is an awkward, robust presence but possesses a refinement that marks him out as one of the country's leading centre forwards.

Chris Porter is not far behind him in the popularity stakes. The Englishman looks more like a chartered accountant than a footballer but after his two goals at Tynecastle, he has now totted-up a creditable 11 for Motherwell this season.

Jose Goncalves was masterful at left-back for Hearts even after McGhee's attempts at suppressing the Portuguese full-back by re-positioning Clarkson as a buffer in right midfield. The manager also engaged in regular debate with the stand-side assistant over Goncalves's unconventional but effective throw-in style, likened afterwards by McGhee to bowling a googly in cricket.

Andrew Driver and Deividas Cesnauskis, on either flank, brought a width and dynamism that Motherwell's 4-3-3 simply could not permit. It made for a fascinating tactical joust between the favourite for the Scotland vacancy and the manager who would just be thankful to pick his own team once in a while.

On this form, Hearts remain an attractive proposition but they remain a combustible collection. Michael Stewart seems as popular in these parts as Chris Robinson. Every touch was met with a groan, every mis-placed pass with a burst of profanity. At one stage, the poor lad looked forlornly at his boots, perhaps in the futile hope he had laced them up on the wrong feet.

It was inevitable Clarkson would be presented with the first opportunity of an emotional day and it arrived merely three minutes after Motherwell's brief, thought-provoking huddle. The striker received McCormack's first inviting cross but he was denied a soothing start by a timely block from the exceptional Christophe Berra.

Hearts literally raced into the lead. Audrius Ksanavicius sped inside Quinn with a rare purposeful burst and his cross was cushioned home on the volley by Cesnauskis with the aid of Graeme Smith's far post.

The jittery figure of Eduardo Kurskis in the Hearts goal gave Motherwell encouragement but the circumstances that culminated in Hearts' second riled McGhee. The visitors made progress down the right through McCormack but play was held-up by Stuart Dougal as Berra clasped his crown jewels having made an earlier block. The referee ordered a bounce-up, Motherwell were penalised and from Kurskis' speculative launch, Velicka evaded a dithering defence to finish.

Ksanavicius was criminally off-target with a diving header moments later but still there was no hint of panic among the stylistic superiors despite them finding themselves two goals down. Lasley supplied McCormack and his cross was tapped home by Porter. Motherwell's comeback was complete 15 minutes later. This time McCormack supplied Lasley and Porter equalised without fuss.

"We made it difficult for ourselves by going 2-0 down but even then I spoke to Scott Leitch assistant manager and said there's still something in this for us'," said McGhee.

"I asked for a typical Scottish Cup tie and we got that."

It was an even more commendable feat by Motherwell given the exceptional circumstances.

Taken from the Herald