'We need a kick up the backside'

"Some players like that approach and others like to go out and relax. The gaffer's got it right all season and I'm sure he'll get us fired up. We're all professionals and we all have a good attitude. The gaffer wouldn't let us slacken off. There's pride at stake and the fans are here to watch, you can't go out half-heartedly.

"Finishing third is better than last year so you have to take it as a good achievement. Everybody wants to win the league but we had a wee blip earlier in the season. We're going for third and we'll see what happens after that."

Despite Saturday's results conspiring against them somewhat, Hearts remain eight points clear of fourth-placed United with six matches remaining. They are in pole position to secure third and a return to European football.

"I played against Dinamo Zagreb over there two years ago," recalled Black. "It was a tough night but a great experience. Most of the boys who were in the squad are still here and we want another taste of it next year by getting third wrapped up."

Although that might seem a formality, events at Tynecastle on Saturday proved it will be anything but. Motherwell finalised their place in the SPL's top six with a gutsy and resilient display and might even have departed with all three points. They struck the frame of the Hearts goal twice and looked both organised and disciplined under manager Stuart McCall.

Hearts went tantalisingly close to opening the scoring on 14 minutes when Ryan Stevenson's first-time shot from a headed clearance was pushed away only by the fingertips of Darren Randolph, the visiting goalkeeper.

Steven Saunders then intercepted Ruben Palazuelos' pass to David Templeton and moved forward to crash a shot off Jamie MacDonald's right post.

Hearts enjoyed the lion's share of possession without troubling their guests in the final third. Saunders' strike served as a timely reminder that those from Lanarkshire would threaten whenever the opportunity presented itself. They did so again in the second period when a lofted through ball was flicked on by substitute John Sutton for Ross Forbes to volley off the Hearts crossbar.

The closing stages saw the hosts increase the pressure inside the Motherwell half. Craig Thomson's bending free-kick from the left would have squirmed over the goal line for a late winner but for Randolph's intervention low at the near post. Then an incisive break ended with Forbes lashing the ball only inches past the post with MacDonald at full stretch. In the end, one point each was a fair reflection of the 90 minutes.

"We put a lot into it and they came for a draw," said Black. "Not to get three points is a bit of a nightmare. One win in six is not a concern, we know we're good enough and we've just been unfortunate. We need the rub of the green and we'll get it if we keep working hard.

"You have these days when you have 100 shots and they never go in. Motherwell's goalkeeper had a great save from Thommo's free-kick, I think that summed the day up. We want to win every game and get third place wrapped up. I'm still confident we can do it - we just need to keep working."

Black was substituted just after the hour due to knee and hamstring problems, further adding to the considerable injury problems at Tynecastle with Marian Kello, Kevin Kyle, Calum Elliot and Lee Wallace all missing at the weekend.

"I had a problem with my knee and I've strained my hamstring. Fingers crossed I'm okay for next week. We have great ability throughout the squad so there's no major concern about injuries," said Black.

Jim Jefferies, the Hearts manager, declared himself satisfied with the application of his players. "We started really well, passing the ball well and the crowd were happy with some good balls into the box," he said. "I bet Kevin kyle was wishing he was on the end of some of those balls rather than sitting in the stand.

"Then we started giving it away, maybe due to frustration. We had to concentrate on getting it down and passing it. Motherwell set up for a point but you can't fault our players. They kept pushing and pushing and just failed to get that wee break. We almost got caught on the break with so many attacking players on the field trying to get that goal."

Jefferies made three substitutions at once just after the hour, introducing Scott Robinson, Andy Driver and Suso to give his team more attacking impetus. "I thought Scott Robinson held the ball up well for us and used it well but, like everybody else, the ball failed to sit for him.

Craig Thomson's free-kick was the only real save their goalie had to make. You could tell that Motherwell came for a point.

"We could have won it but we could have lost it as well. It's another game out of the road. It's most important that, if you don't score, then you don't lose one. Every point is vital at this stage of the proceedings."

It came as no surprise to hear McCall wax lyrical about his players who, assured of a top-six finish, now prepare for Saturday's Scottish Cup semi-final with St Johnstone. "It's a fantastic result and I'm really proud of the players," said McCall. "Hearts had most of the possession but we had some good chances, hitting the post and the bar. I thought it was a decent game for a 0-0 draw.

"We expected to be under pressure but we had a young kid (midfielder Stewart Carswell) making his debut and he was outstanding. Keith Lasley, John Sutton, Jamie Murphy and Steven Hammell were rested so to get a point without so many first-team regulars is a fantastic achievement. We have consistency at home but we need it away and we were excellent.

"When I came to the club people said it's a bad time to come. 'If you make the top six it'll be a miracle,' they were saying. I've never been involved in the split but I can imagine the season petering out if it wasn't there. You want to be involved in the big games on television and the budget is better because of it. Now I can't throw that carrot to the players, I hope they don't down tools.

"We can relax now and look forward to the cup semi-final knowing the first part of our mission is accomplished.

"We aren't going into it on the back of a bad result, it's a very good result and a very good performance. I'm going to have to leave players out of the 16 on Saturday and that's going to be very, very difficult. I'm not moaning about it though, I'd rather be in this position."

Taken from the Scotsman