Hearts 2-1 Motherwell

Mar 5 2009 By Gary Ralston At Tynecastle

MOTHERWELL boss Mark McGhee last night accused Csaba Laszlo of telling him to "f*** off" as Hearts were caught up in more controversy.

The Jambos took another huge step towards Europe with a dramatic injury-time strike from Ruben Palazuelos at Tynecastle.

But the win was overshadowed by a touchline bust-up between McGhee and Laszlo - and their war of words continued in the media room afterwards.

The latest accusation came just 48 hours after Dundee United boss Craig Levein, who watched from the directors' box last night, claimed his former club are full of cheats and conmen.

McGhee cried foul as he rounded on Laszlo after their row and fourth official Crawford Allan stepped in to separate them and police kept a watchful eye at the mouth of the tunnel.

Laszlo hit back, claiming he had apologised for his words and alleging in response that McGhee had twice insulted him in the second half without saying sorry.

He refused to reveal what McGhee apparently said but insisted his second verbal blast was so strong it could have landed him in the courts.

Round one began when McGhee was asked about their bust-up in 60 minutes after Maros Klimpl was booked for a foul on Andrew Driver.

He said: "I was quite upset and disappointed. There was a foul and by the reaction of their bench you would have thought there had been an assassination.

"I asked Laszlo what his problem was and he told me to "f*** off". What's that all about?"

But round two was soon underway as Laszlo conceded he had used choice language but only after McGhee had taken a verbal shot at him. He then claimed his rival lashed out with another verbal blast and didn't even say sorry.

Laszlo said: "If he told you about what I said then he should also have told you what he told me before. I'm also not saying what he told me when the score went to 1-1 because if I told you we must go to the law.

"I apologised directly to him for my attitude but he didn't do the same to me. I'm not here to go to war because I respect him as a person and for all he achieved in football in Germany and Scotland.

"We must respect each other and he must not bring so much emotion after losing the game. You must control your emotions. I know it is painful to lose."

It was difficult to remember there was a game played earlier as the Jambos stretched their lead over United in third to five points.

Palazuelos struck with his first goal of the season and his first at Tynecastle in the second minute of injury time, wrong-footing Graeme Smith with a shot from the edge of the box following a long throw from Robbie Neilson.

It was tough luck on Motherwell as the late strike condemned them to their first defeat since December 20 and, coupled with Hibs' win, it means they've dropped out the top six. They looked to have secured the point their play deserved when Stephen Hughes volleyed home from 20 yards in 75 minutes after Hearts failed to deal with a Steven Hammell set-piece delivery.

Hearts had taken the lead five minutes after the restart when Driver nipped in unmarked at the front post to nod another long throw from Neilson past the helpless Smith from six yards.

Hearts showed terrific character to secure another victory and they have now lost only once in the SPL in their last seven matches.

But they took time to get going in and it was Hughes who came closest to handing Well the lead in a disappointing first half when he cracked the bar after the Hearts defence had struggled to clear a Jim O'Brien corner.

The best chance for Hearts in the opening period fell to Lee Wallace, who burst forward from the left but his fierce drive was touched round the post by Smith.

Hearts were clearly determined not to start the second half as sluggishly as the first and Driver duly set them on the road to victory with the opener.

The equaliser came at a period in the game when Motherwell were at their best, although they lost Stephen Craigan on a stretcher following a clash of heads with Christian Nade.

Perhaps they missed his influence as the ref awarded five minutes of injury time after his lengthy period of treatment - and Palazuelos stepped up to seal the points.

Laszlo added: "I told the players after we lost a late goal to St Mirren that if we sacrifice ourselves it's possible to score at any moment of the game."

McGhee's side now trail Hearts by 12 points but he still insists Europe is a possibility.

He said: "I'm disappointed we didn't win but 100 per cent satisfied with the way we performed. I believe we'll eventually finish in the top six.

"I don't think we've any chance of coming third but fourth is still a very real possibility."

MAN OF THE MATCH

Stephen Hughes (Motherwell)

HEARTS - Balogh 6, Neilson 6, Wallace 6, Karipidis 6, Palazuelos 5, Aguiar 6 (Elliot 88, 2), Driver 6 (Mikoliunas 90, 1), Mrowiec 3 (Nade 33, 5), Obua 5, Jonsson 6, Stewart 6. Not used: Cesnauskis, Thomson, Park, Kello.

MOTHERWELL - Smith 6, Hammell 6, Reynolds 6, Craigan 6 (D Smith 74, 3), McLean 6, Klimpl 6, Hughes 8, Sheridan 6, Clarkson 5 (McGarry 68, 3), Sutton 6, O'Brien 5. Not used: Malcolm, Murphy, Lasley, Aydilek, Krysiak.

Referee - BWinter.

Taken from the Daily Record