Hearts 0 - 0 Motherwell

Motherwell confirmed a top six place in the Scottish Premier League after drawing with Hearts at Tynecastle.

Ryan Stevenson forced Motherwell goalkeeper Darren Randolph into a save and Steven Saunders struck a Hearts post before half-time.

The frame of the Hearts goal was rattled again after the break, Ross Forbes' long-range effort clipping the top of the crossbar.

Forbes went close again near the end as both sides had to settle for a point.

The result means Inverness, who drew at Kilmarnock, cannot overtake Motherwell before the SPL split, meaning the Steelmen claim the last slot in the top half of the table.

Steve Jones flashed a shot over the Hearts crossbar after capitalising on a mix-up between Jason Thomson and Ismael Bouzid early on.

At the other end, Stephen Elliott's effort from Rudi Skacel's cross was too high before Randolph was called into action.

Stevenson collected the ball after Thomson's cross had only been half-cleared and the midfielder's low drive from the edge of the area was palmed away by the keeper.

Saunders came close to breaking the deadlock when his 20-yard drive smacked the post.

Randolph blocked well to end David Templeton's meandering run into the box and then saved a rebound effort as Hearts were frustrated at the start of the second half.

Substitutes Scott Robinson and Suso Santana were next to threaten for the hosts, the former having his shot blocked and the latter firing over.

Skacel then dragged a shot wide from 25 yards.

'Well sent on John Sutton in place of Esteban Casagolda and the striker's first contribution was to head a long ball on for Forbes, whose volley hit the bar on its way out.

The visitors, who meet St Johnstone in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup next week, were dealt an injury blow when winger Chris Humphrey had to be replaced by Jamie Murphy.

But Stuart McCall's side finished the stronger of the two sides and Forbes again tried his luck from distance, the midfielder's 25-yard effort slipping wide a few minutes before the full-time whistle.

Taken from the BBC