BLACK AND TANNED ... Hearts mob hero Ian

Training gear off, overalls on.

Ian Black, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, slaved morning, noon and night to deliver Christmas for his kids and his plight summed up the sorry state of Hearts.

The midfielder's continued commitment to a club struggling to pay his wages should be an example to us all.

At Tynecastle on Saturday, he ditched the brush for his boots to produce his glossiest finish yet.

A 25-yard screamer that was the catalyst for Hearts' best performance of the season, bringing much needed festive cheer to Gorgie.

Black's desire throughout this 2-0 win summing up the spirit of this Hearts side. A team that could so easily have downed tools and chucked it, battling as if their very lives depended on it.

After this, it's not just their December pay they're due, Paulo Sergio's boys deserve a bumper Christmas bonus.

They out-fought and out-thought a Motherwell team now just five points clear in third.

Keith Lasley, who went through administration at Well ten years ago, has admiration for the way the Hearts players have coped with the cash crisis at Tynecastle.

He said: "I thought they were excellent albeit it we gave them a good start. They were deserved winners in the end.

"You have to have admiration for them because there is a lot going on behind the scenes.

"Unfortunately, we had a taste of that ourselves at Motherwell.

"We know what is going through their heads, to a certain extent, and it isn't easy. They still have a good squad of players and a real depth. You saw that with the subs they brought on.

"If that group of players can continue to play well then they are going to give a lot of teams problems.

"Regardless of what is going on, they are going to be doing their best. I think their professionalism will see them go out and continue to give 100 per cent.

"Sometimes it brings you together when things like that are going on off the field. It can actually bind you together and it certainly did for Hearts."

While it's game on in the race for the SPL title, Hearts' win over Well has blown the race for third wide open too.

Stuart McCall's men are still five points clear of St Johnstone and six ahead of Hearts, but Lasley knows the Jambos are gunning to finish best of the rest.

The midfielder said: "We didn't expect anything less. We know there are some good teams out there.

"St Johnstone won again and there are going to be a number of teams who are going to be vying for that third position.

"Hopefully we can stay up here as long as we can.

"We had been on a great run away from home and unfortunately Tynecastle was a bit of a blip but we can get back on track against Dunfermline."

Hearts took the lead on 16 minutes when Black unleashed a bullet from 25 yards. David Templeton, Hearts' standout player, then left Well's Tom Hateley on his backside before firing in a low cross for Stephen Elliott to turn home.

Just 27 minutes in and game over. Now Lasley admits the pressure is on as Well look to put their poor home form behind them and take all three points against Dunfermline on Wednesday.

He said: "For one reason or another our home form has not been what our away form has been.

"It is something we need to rectify and to get a few wins on the board.

"Hopefully it will start on Wednesday. If we can get our home form going it will give us a better chance of staying where we are in the league."

Hearts boss Sergio blanked the press once again with McCall left to explain his side's defeat.

The Well gaffer said: "What went wrong? Listen, there is no disgrace in coming to Hearts and losing to the kind of team they can put out.

"Just because we have been doing well away from home it doesn't mean we have a divine right to come to places like this and win.

"We defended badly for the two goals because I always felt the opener would be crucial.

"My lads have been excellent up until now but a few weren't good enough on the day. One or two had their poorest performance for the club since coming here.

"As a group we didn't perform as well as we have been.

"It's not all doom and gloom because we have lost to a very good Hearts side.

"We now need to pick ourselves up and it's all about the game with Dunfermline on Wednesday.

"Hearts are a good team and they have good players.

"We never said third was a given. We know how difficult it is.

"There are some very good teams in this league and if Hearts keep playing like this then they will be there.

"If they can keep this side together then they will provide a lot of teams with a tough test."