Hearts 3-3 Motherwell

Motherwell: Sutton 54, Hateley 60, Sutton 89

WITH Marian Kello reinstated to the team, Hearts squandered a three-goal lead against Motherwell as the Scottish Cup finalists performed the most remarkable of comebacks in torrential rain at Tynecastle.

A Craig Thomson penalty - his first goal at senior level - plus goals from Rudi Skacel and Ryan Stevenson accorded the hosts a 3-0 advantage and seemed to have ensured that the three points would remain in Edinburgh. However, Motherwell fashioned two quick goals of their own through John Sutton and Tom Hatelely, thereby ensuring a nervous finale to an enthralling second half. In the final minute, Sutton glanced their equaliser beyond Kello.

The private matter which had seen the Slovakian left out of action for the last three weeks has been resolved, and certainly home supporters welcomed the return of their team's first-choice goalkeeper alongside that of Eggert Jonsson. Despite losing three goals Kello produced a handful of impressive stops to deny Motherwell at various stages of the game.

Dundee United had beaten Kilmarnock 4-2 earlier in the day to maintain pressure on Hearts in the race for Europe. After moving into a 3-0 lead, they looked to have answered any questions being asked of them. But few could have predicted Motherwell's comeback, which might be attributed to the fact Andy Webster was withdrawn at half-time with a groin injury.

The Hearts defence looked disjointed without their captain for the day, who was replaced by Adrian Mrowiec with Ian Black donning the armband for the second half.

The first genuine opportunity of the afternoon fell to Suso, whose header following Ruben Palazuelos' cross and Skacel's flick was well parried by Darren Randolph at close range. Thomson then arced a free-kick over the crossbar before being presented with a prime opportunity from the penalty spot, which he confidently accepted.

Steven Saunders was judged to have pulled Stevenson down during jostling at a corner, and from 12 yards Thomson stroked the ball beautifully to Randolph's left.

Although Motherwell's play was more intricate and tidy, Hearts were creating the clearer chances and on 31 minutes Stevenson struck a post with an attempt from 20 yards. Minutes later they doubled their advantage through Skacel. The Czech initiated a fine one-two with Stephen Elliott and crashed the return ball into the roof of the net with his right foot.

Kello then produced two moments in keeping with his entire outstanding season. From Hateley's corner kick, Saunders rose to power the ball goalwards only for the goalkeeper to repel the effort. A combination of Skacel and Jonsson completed the clearance. Then Kello stood up to Jamie Murphy's angled shot with two strong hands to beat the ball clear.

Early in the second half, Hearts increased the pace. In the 49th minute Stevenson executed an exquisite move fully deserving of a goal. Facing away from goal, the midfielder backheeled the ball through the legs of his marker, Stephen Craigan, and turned to leave the defender for dead. As Randolph emerged from goal Stevenson drove the ball across the goalkeeper from a tight angle only for it to strike the inside of the right post, then the inside of the left and roll clear. It was a moment of misfortune which left the Hearts player in disbelief.

However, within three minutes, Stevenson did inscribe his name on the scoresheet. He rose unchallenged to meet Suso's cross and deliver an unstoppable header from around eight yards. It was his just rewards and virtually everyone inside the stadium knew it.

If Hearts felt entitled to relax slightly given their three-goal advantage, Motherwell punished them in the most severe fashion. Stephen Jones turned sharply away from Thomson and sprinted into space to deliver a cross from the right towards the back post. Arriving on cue was Sutton, a striker said to be interesting Hearts, to head beyond Kello and sow a seed of doubt within the minds of the hosts.

That seed blossomed quicker than expected when the visitors struck again six minutes later. Jonsson fouled Murphy on the Hearts right flank and Hateley's angled free-kick appeared to bounce through into the net as Sutton moved in seeking a deft touch. It was game on.

Kello pushed away vicious netbound drives from Hateley and Francis Jeffers with Hearts now rocking due to Motherwell's new-found appetite and energy. Jones struck Kello's left post with an opportunistic effort and as the final stages approached it was those clad in amber who continued pressing forward.

Their remarkable fightback was complete in the 89th minute, when full-back Gavin Gunning's cross was glanced expertly into the net by dint of Sutton's diving header.

Hearts (4-4-2): Kello; Jonsson, Bouzid, Webster (Mrowiec 46), Palazuelos; Suso (Templeton 71), Black, Palazuelos, Skacel (Driver 82); Stevenson, S Elliott. Subs: Balogh, McGowan, Glen, Robinson.

Motherwell (4-4-2): Randolph; Saunders (Ross 58), Hutchinson, Craigan, Gunning; Jones, Hateley, Lasley, Murphy; Sutton, Jeffers. Subs: Hollis, Hammell, McHugh, Forbes, Casagolda, Smith.

Referee: Willie Collum.

Attendance: 13,039.

Taken from the Scotsman