Dire Hearts beaten 1-0 at Motherwell

Hearts got everything they deserved out of a poor performance at Fir Park in which a second half goal from Ross Forbes was enough to secure all three points for Motherwell with a 1-0 win.

To add insult to injury Eggert Jonsson was sent off for a professional foul and although Hearts started to threaten it attack in the final minutes it was too little too late as the home side deservedly held on.

Csaba Laszlo was forced into making one change from the team that dumped Celtic out of the Co-Operative Insurance Cup in midweek as Wednesday's penalty hero Michael Stewart was forced to pull out with an ankle injury.In came Eggert Jonsson for his first start since playing against Rangers in August.

To call the first 20 minutes 'lifeless dross' would be to put it mildly as both teams continually swapped possession in the middle of the park without showing any sort of spark capable of creating a meaningful attack.

It was in the 21st minute when Motherwell produced the game's first highlight when centre back Shaun Hutchison rose highest in the penalty area and his goal-bound header was tipped over the bar by Balogh.

A minute later Hearts had a go themselves as a ball through the middle found Andrew Driver breaking into the penalty area having split the Motherwell backline.The ball didn't sit up in time as the winger was crowded out before he could get a shot away.After the clearance the ball did make its' way back to Driver but he blazed over with his shot from 12 yards.

Finally the game was showing signs of life with Motherwell in the ascendancy and Tom Hateley missed a guilt-edged chance to give the home side the lead on 29 minutes. As a free kick from the left dropped in at the back post the midfielder found himself completely unmarked but he somehow headed wide of goal.

David Somers' half time whistle was an act of mercy as much as anything else as supporters on both sides politely clapped a bunch of players they were praying could produce better in the second half.

Three minutes after the restart and Jim O'Brien obliged for Motherwell with an incredible strike on the half volley after latching onto a Lukas Jutkiewicz knockdown.The fizzing shot from 20 yards had Balogh beaten but unluckily for Motherwell it crashed into the side netting.

There was only one team who deserved to take the lead in this game and Motherwell finally made their pressure count on 55 minutes.A deep ball from the right wing found Ross Forbes running in at the back post and his first time shot from six yards had enough power in it to squirm under Balogh and into the back of the net.

Things just went from bad to worse for Hearts on 71 minutes when a long ball pumped into the Hearts half had Eggert Jonsson and Jim O'Brien racing for the ball.Jonsson got their first but his attempted header back to Balogh was woefully short and it allowed O'Brien to get in front.Jonsson took the option to bring down the winger, stopping a certain goal but getting himself sent off in the process.

Ten minutes remaining in the game Hearts were inches away from grabbing an improbable equaliser.Andrew Driver fought for the ball on the left, hit the byline and cut it back for Gary Glen whose first time shot was partially deflected onto the outside of the post by a terrific save from John Ruddy in the Motherwell goal.

As a result of two lengthy treatments for injured players the referee added on seven minutes of stoppage time and with 60 seconds remaining Arvydas Novikovas flashed his left foot at a bouncing ball outside the box.The shot had power and was headed for the corner but Ruddy was well placed as he comfortably held onto the ball and Hearts' last chance was gone.

Motherwell: Ruddy; Moutaouakil, Saunders, Hutchison, Reynolds; Forbes (Humphrey 71), Hateley, Coke, O'Brien (Murphy 84); Jutkiewicz (Lasley 84), Sutton. Subs not used: Fraser, Jennings, Archdeacon, Page. Booked: Sutton

Hearts: Balogh; Thomson (Novikovas 81), Goncalves, Bouzid, Wallace; Jonsson, Palazuelos; Obua (Witteveen 87), Black, Driver; Nade (Glen 59). Subs not used: Kello, Kucharski, J Thomson, Mulrooney. Booked: Palazuelos, Novikovas. Sent Off: Jonsson

Referee: David Somers

Top man: Jose Goncalves

Hearts World