Motherwell 1 Hearts 0

If that was little more than the home side deserved from a first half in which they always looked the better team, Hearts would point to their own dominance in the second period, and particularly the three or four clear-cut chances they created in the final twenty minutes, as evidence that they merited a stab at extra time at least. As it was, the Motherwell defence proved to be made of sterner stuff, and they safely ran down the clock to the delight of the packed home stands.

Mark McGhee made just a single change from the 3-1 defeat at Love Street on Saturday, Jim Paterson returning from suspension to resume at left-back in place of the indisposed Stephen McGarry. Hearts, meanwhile, also made one change from the win over Hibs, Andrew Driver making way for Saulius Mikoliunas in a 4-5-1 formation that still looked to contain a fair amount of attacking menace - at least on paper.

And that appeared to translate onto the pitch, at least in the opening ten minutes during which it was Hearts who looked the likelier side. Miko was looking particularly sprightly on the right and it was he and Andrius Velicka who fashioned a couple of promising openings, both of which led to ultimately fruitless corners for the visitors.

Motherwell, in their first game back at Fir Park since the turn of the year, seemed a little apprehensive on a sticky-looking surface, although they did give notice of their intentions on seven minutes when Ross McCormack swung a teasing cross into the middle. Chris Porter swiped at the ball with his left boot, but luckily for Hearts he missed it completely allowing the ball to slip harmlessly wide.

Jose Goncalves chases Ross McCormack

Two subsequent left-wing corners from McCormack wouldn't have caused any problem for the Hearts defence had Velicka managed to effect a simple clearance at the near post. On both occasions, though, all the Lithuanian could do was slash the ball back over his own byline. Jonsson it was who finally cleared the third award.

The promising early play had given way to a dour midfield battle. Hearts main problem was the inability of lone striker Velicka to effectively hold up to the ball whenever it was lashed towards him. And on the few occasions he did get it under control, he found both Miko and Cesnauskis too far away to receive an effective pass.

There wasn't too much happening at either end, but that changed on 23 minutes when the hosts edged into the lead. David Clarkson made good ground down the right before slipping the ball inside to Lasley and his first-time shot was charged down inside the area by Jonsson. The Motherwell players all claimed immediately for the penalty, and unfortunately Mr Dougal agreed with them. McCormack dispatched the award with ease, sending Banks the wrong way.

Hearts response to that can best be described as tepid. Indeed, with the home side's trademark high-tempo style now lent additional verve by the bonus of an early lead, the visitors were finding it increasingly difficult to keep their heads above water. While Banks was never called into direct action, there was enough purposeful play around the edge of his penalty area to ensure that we were never able to fully relax.

Up front the problems inherent in the formation became ever more apparent, Velicka well marshalled by the muscular Stephen Craigan with his back to goal, outpaced by Mark Reynolds when his midfielders decided to go long. Too often, though, there was simply no target for that midfield to hit, and even before the half-time whistle blew, we were assessing the options available to Stephen Frail should he decide to change personnel or tactics at the break.

Michael Stewart tackles Stephen Hughes

The caretaker-manager exercised one of those options by introducing Christian Nade for Deividas Cesnauskis and switching to two up front, and although it did give Hearts a little more forward momentum, they still appeared unable to seriously test Graeme Smith in the home side's goal. Michael Stewart's gently floated free kick was the most testing ball he had to deal with.

Motherwell themselves had already made the first change of the game, introducing Darren Smith for the injured Porter just a minute before half-time, but the third switch was less conventional -- with an hour gone, referee Stuart Dougal departed the action to be replaced by fourth official Craig Thomson.

It was surely only coincidence that Hearts fortunes almost improved immediately. Smart play in midfield allowed Ruben Palazuelos to release makeshift right midfielder Jonsson, who made good ground before crossing deep to the far post. Craigan missed the ball completely, which then dropped kindly for Velicka, but his luck was out with a side-footed effort that rebounded back off Smith's left-hand post. The less said about Palazuelos' rebound effort, the better.

We would wait another twenty minutes for similar excitement. Then, with just ten minutes to go, Nade picked up a loose ball at the left-hand corner flag and showed all his trickery in an entertaining slalom past three defenders stationed along the Motherwell byline. With few options for the cutback, he decided to drive a low shot from the tightest of angles, but Smith was up to the challenge and clutched on the line.

Motherwell take the lead

The big Frenchman then overran Miko's tuck in from the left, again allowing Smith to drop bravely onto the ball, before a third incursion into the area saw Nade create a chance for Velicka to shoot from the edge of the box, this one was blocked by a defender almost as soon as it had left his boot.

Motherwell were now pegged back firmly into their own half, although Hearts had to remain watchful of the regular thrusts forward from pacy substitute Darren Smith and the ever dangerous McCormack. That was all the Steelmen had left to offer, with the other eight outfield players now rarely venturing over half way as they attempted to strangle the game. Sadly for Hearts, though, they managed to do that all too easily.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith; Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Paterson; Fitzpatrick, Lasley, Hughes; Clarkson, Porter (Darren Smith 45), McCormack. Booked: Quinn. Subs not used: Meldrum, McLean, Archdeacon, Murphy.

Hearts: Banks; Neilson, Karipidis, Berra, Goncalves; Mikoliunas, Jonsson, Stewart, Palazuelos, Cesnauskis (Nade 46); Velicka. Booked: Neilson, Mikoliunas, Jonsson. Subs not used: Bjornsson, Wallace, Beniusis, Ivaskevicius.

Referee: Stuart Dougal (Craig Thomson 60)

Top man: Ruben Palazuelos

Hearts World