SPL: Hearts 2 Motherwell 0

Dec 24 2011

HEARTS moved to within six points of third-placed Motherwell with goals from Ian Black and Stephen Elliott.

Black, who has been working as a painter and decorator recently due to Hearts' money worries, netted from the edge of the area after 17 minutes and Elliott tapped in a second after 28 minutes following a good David Templeton run.

Tynecastle boss Paolo Sergio was thrilled with the win as circumstances at the club remain challenging.

He told Hearts TV: "It was a very good result and it has a special value because it was against a very good team.

"It was a tough game. We were tactically perfect, had a great attitude and used the ball very well.

"It's a players' victory. They deserve it more than anybody else and I'm so happy for them."

The only downside for Hearts came midway through the second half when Jamie Hamill went off on a stretcher.

Sergio revealed the right-back's training has been limited by an ankle problem, but could not say how serious the latest problem is.

Sergio added: "Jamie's a champion. Jamie's been fighting the last two weeks with an ankle problem.

"He has just been running one or two days during the week to be able to play.

"I love to have players with that character and I know with his strength and desire he'll return as soon as possible. I hope it's nothing very serious."

Hearts face Hibernian in the Edinburgh derby on January 2 but Sergio will first focus his attention on Aberdeen, with his match preparation beginning on Christmas Day.

He added: "Now we can go home and have a very nice Christmas night and on Monday, or tomorrow for me, I'll start doing my job for the Aberdeen game."

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall was far from downbeat after watching his side struggle.

It was Motherwell's second away loss of the season but McCall was philosophical.

McCall said: "We've no divine right just to go anywhere and, because we've been doing okay away from home, expect to win the game.

"It's disappointing, but there's no disgrace coming to Hearts and getting beaten by the side they can put out on the park.

"We defended poorly for the two goals, we didn't do enough creatively to really cause them a problem."

McCall added: "You've got to give Hearts full credit, the players and management staff for coming out and putting on a performance like that.

"But with the squad they've got - I thought Taouil and Templeton were excellent today - it's not a disgrace.

"We probably had two or three lads today who have probably had as poor a game as they've had for Motherwell since I've been here but I can't be over-critical of them. They've been excellent up until now.

"We just weren't good enough on today's performance and the best team won."

McCall admitted suspended midfielder Steve Jennings' absence had an impact.

"We probably did miss him, but that's nothing against Stephen Hughes," McCall said.

"Just as a group, we didn't perform as well as we have been doing."

McCall is eager for a response against Dunfermline next week.

He added: "It's not doom and gloom. We've just got to look to Wednesday and make sure we can bounce back."

Hearts full-back Jamie Hamill was carried off on a stretcher midway through the second half of a match in which Motherwell struggled and slumped to their second away loss of the season.

The result saw Hearts manager Paulo Sergio celebrate his return to the dugout following a five-match touchline ban with a third win from nine matches since the first team first suffered delayed payment of their wages.

Hearts named an unchanged team following the 4-0 defeat of Dunfermline, with Templeton retained despite being ill during the week.

He gave Tom Hateley a torrid time in the first half, the Well right-back suffering the indignity of falling on his backside while trying to track his opponent.

While much of Templeton's play was good, Hateley was poor and was often left exposed against the winger, who had support from full-back Ryan McGowan.

After having a hand in both goals, Templeton was withdrawn after 62 minutes and replaced by Andrew Driver.

Driver was left out of the squad against the Pars following talks with Sergio, but on Thursday denied he had refused to play under the Portuguese and returned to the bench.

However, Ryan Stevenson was missing, the midfielder having taken a self-imposed leave of absence due to his frustrations with ongoing events at Tynecastle.

Hearts' first-team squad are still awaiting their December wages and, with their salaries overdue for a third successive month, Stevenson opted to take time out to consider his position.

How John Sutton, who was ill today, must wish he had not swapped Fir Park for Tynecastle last summer.

Michael Higdon, who replaced Sutton at Well, had the game's first shot, with Marian Kello making a comfortable save.

Hearts then began to get on top and Darren Randolph reacted well to save a Templeton shot which had ricocheted off Shaun Hutchinson.

Templeton then skipped past Hateley on the left before having a shot blocked.

The rebound fell for Black, who made space for himself on the edge of the box and hit a shot into the bottom corner.

Templeton hit a shot from 30 yards narrowly over before his blistering pace took him by Hateley again.

The Hearts winger surged into the area and threaded a cross through for Elliott to tap in at the back post.

An attempted Omar Daley cross struck the post as Well attempted to find a route back into the game before half-time.

But Hateley's troubles continued after the restart. He fell attempting to intercept a cross-field pass to Templeton, who went on to shoot from a narrow angle which did not trouble Randolph.

It was his final action as Driver came on to applause and some muted booing.

Hearts were forced into another change when Hamill went to ground and was seen clutching his left ankle before being carried off on a stretcher.

Darren Barr came on after a lengthy delay and was soon penalised for fouling Keith Lasley on the edge of the Hearts area. Hateley fired the subsequent free-kick over.

Driver, playing on the right, drilled in a cross which Well diverted for a corner and Mehdi Taouil shot over as Hearts went in search of a third.

But the hosts instead settled for three points in their final home game of an eventful 2011.

Taken from the Daily Record