Motherwell 1 Hearts 0

Hearts suffered a 1-0 defeat to Motherwell in Sunday's Clydesdale Premier League encounter at Fir Park.

The Jambos were reduced to ten men when Ian Black received a straight red card at the beginning of the second half, before Jamie Murphy's 60th minute strike sealed the points for the home side.

Sergio made just one change for his first SPL game, as Jamie Hamill returned from suspension in place of Stephen Elliott who picked up a knock in Thursday night's 4-1 Europa League win over Paks SE.

The game came to life in the fourth minute when Andrew Driver stole the ball on the edge of the Motherwell box, taking a touch before striking a low shot which forced Darren Randolph into tipping the ball round the post for a corner.

It was a predictably tense start to the game, as the Jambos were up against a Motherwell side that had yet to concede a goal this season. The Steelmen eventually registered their first chance on 20 minutes, as some fine work down the right wing by Tom Hateley resulted in a cross which found Steve Jennings unmarked on twelve yards. His ensuing shot forced a fine save from Marian Kello, the big Slovakian diving at full stretch to knock the ball out for a corner.

The right flank was proving to be the main focal point of Motherwell attacks, with Hateley and Chris Humphrey combining on several occasions. The away side held firm, however, yet neither side were capable of sustaining any prolonged periods of pressure.

Jamie Murphy went close for the home side on the half hour mark, as Humphrey's pin point cross from the right found him unmarked on the back post, yet the striker's headed effort flew harmlessly over Kello's goal.

The boys in maroon were then handed a chance out of thin air on 40 minutes, as a deflected pass back fell into the path of Driver. The number 11 won the foot race against Stephen Craigan, but his snapshot was blocked by the outrushing Randolph.

It was to be the last chance of a feisty, evenly contested first half in which neither side were capable of producing clear cut opportunities.

The home side came flying out the traps in the second period, with the Jambos barely out of their half in the first five minutes. Things then took a turn for the worse when the Gorgie side were reduced to ten men, as Ian Black was given his marching orders by referee Stevie O'Reilly for a challenge on Keith Lasley just inside the Motherwell half on 50 minutes.

This prompted Sergio into making a change shortly after, with Driver making way for ex-Motherwell man John Sutton, allowing Stevenson to drop out to a wide right position.

It was the home side who continued to push forward, however, and their one man advantage paid dividends on the hour mark. Nicky Law raced down the right before releasing Murphy inside the box, the striker taking a touch before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner from 8 yards out.

Sergio's men were up against it from then on in, as Motherwell continued to control possession on the increasingly slippery pitch. The away side then had Kello to thank for keeping them in the game, as Murphy latched on to a diagonal ball inside the box, only to be denied by Kello's block on the near post.

The Jambos were forced to sit back and look for the break, and went close when Stevenson was played through by Adrian Mrowiec, his shot from a tight angle tipped wide by Randolph.

Sergio then made a second substitution with Rudi Skacel replacing David Templeton. The play immediately stepped up a notch, as the speedy Humphrey's broke free down the right. After cutting inside, he was eventually brought down by Jamie Hamill on the edge of the box, the former Kilmarnock man receiving a yellow card for his efforts.

The latter then left the pitch on 83 minutes, being replaced by Arvydas Novikovas as Hearts went in search for an equaliser.

They were handed a lifeline in the 86th minutes, as Lasley received a second yellow card for a foul on substitute Novikovas on 20 yards. Skacel's ensuing free kick, however, failed to clear the Motherwell wall.

Time was against the Jambos at this point, as they struggled to generate any attacking momentum in the closing minutes. A late surge on goal proved fruitless, and Sergio's men were left to travel back along the M8 empty handed.

Motherwell: Randolph; Hateley, Saunders, Craigan, Hammell; Law, Jennings, Lasley; Humphrey, Higdon, Murphy(Carswell 89). Subs not used: Hollis, McHugh, Forbes, Page, Halsman, Lawless.

Hearts: Kello; McGowan, Zaliukas, Jonsson, Grainger; Driver(Suttton 56), Black, Mrowiec, Hamill(Novikovas 83), Templeton(Skacel 75), Stevenson. Subs not used: Balogh, Smith, Robinson, Barr.

Referee: Stevie O'Reilly

Top man: Adrian Mrowiec

Hearts World