Hearts 0 - 2 Motherwell: Submissive Hearts left scrambling
Motherwell easily outfight Gorgie side in battle for Europa League berth

Published Date: 26 April 2010
FOR one of these teams, the impression was they were happy to settle for what they have already achieved in simply making the top six. The other, though, looked intent on squeezing the very last vestiges of success from this league campaign.
If Dundee United win the Scottish Cup, the team in fifth place in the league will still have European football to look forward to, but finishing in fourth spot would clinch it regardless of whether Ross County pull off a shock. Which is why Motherwell, rather than just being content with wrestling free of a Hearts team hoping to grasp onto their coat tails, will now try to consolidate their place ahead of both Edinburgh teams.

They have three games left, two away to both halves of the Old Firm and a crucial head to head with Hibs at Fir Park next midweek.

On the evidence of this match, they may not actually welcome home advantage. On the Tynecastle surface, they played a wonderfully high tempo pressing and passing game which saw them take command in all areas of the park. They also had the greater battling spirit. Exhibit A in the matter of inner drive came in the first half when team-mates Steve Jennings and Giles Coke locked horns, angry that one Hearts runner had not been harnessed. The break had come to nothing but still it sparked an angry exchange which delighted rather than disturbed their manager, Craig Brown.

"I'd have been fining them if they had done that to an opponent but internally I'd describe that as healthy determination to succeed. They are so determined to win that when one of them felt the other wasn't doing his job there was no holding back.

"Two goals, from Steve Saunders in the 42nd minute and John Sutton three minutes later, had left the home side lagging in every department, including goals. Furious Jim Jefferies made two immediate switches with Michael Stewart and Gary Glen being replaced. Singling out Lee Wallace as the only player worthy of praise, he said he had been given plenty of food for thought ahead of the next transfer window.

"Lee Wallace was outstanding, our best player by a mile, but there weren't many with pass marks," said Jefferies. "I learned more about certain players in the first 45 minutes of this game than at any other time since I came here. I can't wait until the end of the season so we can get sorted out and start our plans for next year.

"I was raging with that performance. I told them the least we expect is a desire to win but we looked like a team who have settled for the top six and that is not acceptable."

He refused to concede defeat in the race for Europe, but admitted it would now be difficult and would require victory over derby rivals Hibs on Saturday. "We have to concentrate on winning the next three games but we won't with that sort of application."

Even before the goals arrived Motherwell had taken control of the game, the likes of Coke and Jim O'Brien a constant source of endeavour and invention and a duo Hearts never contained.

Both goals came from some poor Hearts defending, the first a Stevie Hammell inswinging corner was headed down towards goal by Saunders and although it was initially saved by Jamie MacDonald, the Motherwell youngster was able to bundle it home through a mish-mash of bodies. The second was from a Tom Hateley free-kick piled in high on John Sutton and Marius Zaliukas and although the Hearts player complained he had been impeded, Sutton got up best to finish.

The visitors had the chance to make it 3-0 in the second-half but when they broke forward yet again, referee Brian Winter made a blunder. O'Brien had done well to flick on a long ball into his path and it took him through clear on goal but the official thought he had used a hand and while he later admitted his error, he provided a let off for the Gorgie team.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Giles Coke (Motherwell)

There were a few contenders in the Motherwell ranks with Jim O'Brien impressive but Giles Coke epitomised his team's blend of industry, creativity and willingness to get forward.

Taken from the Scotsman