Hearts 2-1 Motherwell

Hearts cemented their grip on third place thanks to an injury time goal from Ruben Palazuelos.

Early in the second half, Andrew Driver nodded in from close range as Motherwell failed to deal with a Robbie Neilson long throw-in.

But Stephen Hughes, who had earlier hit the woodwork, levelled with a blistering, angled shot from 20 yards.

Palazuelos zipped in the dramatic winner from 16 yards with a deflected shot, again from a Neilson throw-in.

The Edinburgh side are now five points clear of Dundee United in the race for a Europa League place, while Motherwell's nine-game unbeaten run came to an end.

It was the visitors who showed most threat in the opening exchanges, with Cillian Sheridan twice shooting wide after finding space behind the home defence.

Jim O'Brien's corner was then cleared to the edge of the penalty area and Hughes' fierce, rising effort rattled back off the bar.

Lee Wallace created Hearts' only good chance of the first half when his left-foot strike tipped round the post by Graeme Smith.

However, Hearts came out after the interval re-energised and Michael Stewart quickly whistled a shot past, before Driver broke the deadlock on 50 minutes.

Neilson's long throw-in was missed by David Obua and Driver stole in unmarked to nod home for his fifth of the season and become the club's top scorer this term.

John Sutton's glancing header wide from a McLean cross offered an immediate response, before David Clarkson drove straight at Janos Balogh from distance.

Then, after a Well corner, Hearts broke at speed, Bruno Aguiar feeding Driver who sped away from visiting skipper Stephen Craigan only to shoot into the side-netting.

The visitors lost their skipper to a nasty looking injury but were soon celebrating when a thunderous Hughes free kick flew through a ruck of bodies and eluded Balogh to find the net.

Both sides piled players forward in search of a winning goal and, a minute into five minutes of stoppage time, Palazuelos broke Motherwell hearts with a shot which took a deflection to wrong-foot Smith.

Motherwell forced two late corners but Mark Reynolds' header was straight at Balogh at the death as Hearts held on.

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo:
"It definitely was an important three points.

"Motherwell played very good football. But if I see my players give up, like at St Mirren, I can be a killer!

"We had to forget tactical discipline. It is my mentality not to give up and I told the players at half-time to work to win the game.

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:
"It was a game that we completely dominated. We didn't win the game because we were slack.

"We didn't defend well at two long throw ins for goodness sake! To concede two goals from the exact same situation, particularly in that last minute, was disappointing.

"But I said that we wanted to compete and get back to playing and I thought we did that tonight with some style.

"We have no chance of getting third spot now. It's far too much for us to do. Hearts seem to be getting results although I don't know how."

Hearts: Balogh, Neilson, Mrowiec (Nade 34), Jonsson, Lee Wallace, Palazuelos, Aguiar (Elliot 89), Karipidis, Stewart, Driver (Mikoliunas 90), Obua. Subs Not Used: Kello, Cesnauskis, Thomson, Park.

Booked: Mrowiec.

Goals: Driver 50, Palazuelos 90.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Brian McLean, Craigan (Darren Smith 75), Reynolds, Hammell, O'Brien, Hughes, Klimpl, Sheridan, Clarkson (McGarry 69), Sutton. Subs Not Used: Krysiak, Malcolm, Murphy, Lasley, Aydilek.

Booked: Klimpl.

Goal: Hughes 76.

Att: 13,306

Ref: B Winter

Taken from the BBC