Hearts 3 - 3 Motherwell

Motherwell fought back from three goals down to draw with Hearts at Tynecastle in the Scottish Premier League.

Craig Thomson's penalty, awarded for a foul on Ryan Stevenson, and Rudi Skacel's strike gave the home side a two-goal advantage at the break.

Stevenson headed Hearts' third but John Sutton nodded Well back into the game.

Tom Hateley's free-kick further reduced Well's deficit and Sutton's second, another header, levelled matters late on to complete a remarkable comeback.

Third-placed Hearts are now seven points ahead of Dundee United, while Motherwell in sixth, two points off Kilmarnock with four rounds of fixtures to play.

Steven Saunders headed Hateley's corner towards goal, but the Hearts defence did enough to clear the danger.

But Hearts started to assert themselves and Skacel's header was nodded on by Suso, forcing Darren Randolph to make the save.

Thomson then fired in a free-kick that just cleared the crossbar.

Referee Willie Collum pointed to the spot after Saunders' challenge on Ryan Stevenson and Thomson converted from 12 yards with a powerful shot.
Hearts midfielder Ryan Stevenson celebrates scoring for Hearts against Motherwell
Stevenson's header had put Hearts three goals up

Stevenson came close to a second when he turned Shaun Hutchinson and blasted against the outside of the post.

Hearts' lead was doubled when Skacel played a one-two with Stephen Elliott and drove a shot into the top corner from inside the penalty area.

Motherwell tried to respond and Saunders' header was saved by Hearts goalkeeper Marian Kello, back in the starting line-up after a recent absence.

Kello was again called into action to block Jamie Murphy's shot.

The first half ended with Skacel firing off target.

Thomson had another opportunity from a dead ball situation at the start of the second half and the defender's free-kick narrowly missed the crossbar with Randolph scrambling to get across.

Stevenson was foiled by the goal frame again when, after skilfully evading Stephen Craigan, his shot hit one post, then the other, and bounced back into play before Motherwell cleared the danger.

However, Stevenson did get on the scoresheet when he got on the end of Suso's excellent cross and bulleted a header past Randolph.

Motherwell, though, quickly hit back.

Steve Jones beat his marker and got to the byeline to deliver for Sutton to score with a simple header.

And the visitors were firmly back in the match just before the hour mark when Hateley's free-kick into the box was missed by everyone as it journeyed into the net.

Well were now looking for an equaliser and Hateley's powerful drive was turned out for a corner by Kello.

Kello denied the Steelmen again when Francis Jeffers hammered in a shot from 25 yards.

Maurice Ross, who had come on for Saunders, ventured forward and managed to get in a shot that was parried by Kello before the ball was cleared.

Jones was next to threaten for Motherwell and the winger's left-foot shot spun off the post with Kello beaten.

Jeffers blasted over after finding space inside the Hearts box.

However, Motherwell did get their equaliser when Sutton made a perfectly-timed run to the front post to meet Gavin Gunning's cross with a deft header past Kello in the 88th minute.

Taken from the BBC