Humphrey breaks Hearts to seal Motherwell win

The winger, whose partner gave birth to a girl on Thursday, brilliantly created second-half goals for Nick Blackman and John Sutton.

Hearts never troubled Motherwell goalkeeper Darren Randolph and the visitors comfortably secured their fifth away clean sheet and win of the season.

Darren Barr was dropped from the Hearts squad following their 4-3 defeat by Falkirk as Motherwell visited Tynecastle in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Adrian Mrowiec and Jason Thomson came in for the Scotland cap, and Craig Thomson, who was sent off in the Co-operative Insurance Cup loss.
Rudi Skacel was named on the bench for the first time since rejoining the club earlier this month.

Motherwell named the same team that drew with Aberdeen last weekend with Steve Jennings, Keith Lasley and Jamie Murphy back after being rested for the 2-0 cup win at Brechin. Stevie Hammell remained on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Hearts wide men David Templeton and Suso Santana made a lively start and twice combined to fashion shots at goal, although both players were off target from the edge of the box.

Motherwell were struggling to build any meaningful attacks but Nick Blackman shot wide after collecting a long ball and holding off Mrowiec, who was playing at centre-back.

The visitors began to enjoy longer spells of possession but Templeton created a good chance in the 30th minute when he manoeuvred himself out of a tight spot on the left corner flag and crossed for Kevin Kyle, who headed on to the roof of the net from 12 yards.

Motherwell created the best chance of the half five minutes later on the counter-attack.

Hearts midfielder Ryan Stevenson looked a clear favourite to reach Darren Randolph's kick-out following a Hearts corner but Chris Humphrey outsprinted him and showed good composure to lay the ball back for Blackman.

Keith Lasley flicked on the striker's pass to the unmarked Jamie Murphy, who elected to shoot first time from 16 yards but saw his effort curl off the post.

Murphy soon went close again with a powerful 25-yard strike with the outside of the boot, which was acrobatically touched past the post by Marian Kello.

Motherwell finished the half well, although Hearts had a hopeful penalty appeal rejected when Stephen Craigan tackled Calum Elliot.

Murphy forced another good save after being allowed to run at the heart of the home defence and unleash a well-hit strike from 25 yards.

Steven Saunders was booked for a trip on Templeton 25 yards out but Elliot curled the resulting free-kick over the crossbar.

The home fans were lifted in the 57th minute when Skacel came on and Stephen Elliott made his first appearance since the opening day of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Elliot and Templeton went off as Skacel replaced him and received a huge ovation from the home fans, but they were silenced within 60 seconds when Blackman opened the scoring.

Hateley broke and found Humphrey in space on the right. The winger beat Jonsson and crossed for the unmarked Blackman to guide a cushioned volley into the corner of the net from six yards.

Thomson was booked for a wild challenge on Murphy but soon made a more positive contribution when he crossed for Kyle, who looked certain to score from four yards until Mark Reynolds ghosted past him to make a superb clearance.

Motherwell came close again when Kello spilled Lasley's 20-yard drive but recovered to divert John Sutton's follow-up over the bar, although the officials failed to spot the save and gave a goal kick.

But Sutton was soon celebrating after being set up brilliantly by Humphrey in the 70th minute. The former Shrewsbury player again skinned Jonsson and ran along the byline before driving the ball into the goalmouth for Sutton to tap in.

Hearts never looked like getting back in the game and Kello was again called into action, denying Blackman from close range before saving long-range efforts from the on-loan Blackburn striker, Hateley and substitute Ross Forbes.

Taken from the Scotsman