SPL: Hearts 2 Motherwell 0

Dec 26 2011 by Scott McDermott
Stephen Elliott goal

Hearts double their lead against Motherwell via Stephen Elliott's strike

HEARTS rebel Ryan Stevenson branded the club a circus last week. But on Saturday it was star act David Templeton who made Motherwell look like clowns.

For over an hour the little magician put on a mesmerising show of wing play to entertain the Christmas Eve crowd.

He teased and tormented Well – and had a hand in his side's two goals as the Jambos clawed back three points on the SPL's third-placed side.

A stunning strike from Ian Black and tap-in by Stephen Elliott sealed the win but Templeton was the main attraction.

And while you can understand Stevenson's stance against Vladimir Romanov over unpaid wages, the players who gave their all at the weekend deserve credit for putting the cash row behind them and performing so well.

The win emphasised that Hearts, despite being embroiled in crisis, have the strongest squad in the SPL outside the Old Firm by a Royal Mile.

Boss Paulo Sergio was still able to start six internationals and name another six on the bench. After a spectacular U-turn on his future Andy Driver was back in Sergio's plans.

Motherwell, wearing their "lucky" silver strip, were seeking a club record sixth straight SPL away win and almost struck gold in four minutes. Omar Daley's shot was deflected to Michael Higdon whose drive was smothered at the second attempt by Marian Kello.

But the Steelmen fell behind to a cracking goal in 18 minutes. A slack Keith Lasley pass let Templeton in down the wing and his blocked shot broke to Black who netted a 20-yarder for his first goal of the season.

Templeton created Hearts' second in 29 minutes with another scintillating run, leaving Tom Hateley in his wake and finding Elliott for a simple close-range finish.

Motherwell were all over the place and even keeper Darren Randolph was out of sorts – he botched a risky chipped pass over Templeton whose header bounced wide.

Incredibly, Well could have pulled back a bizarre goal right on half-time. Daley's cross took Kello by surprise as it fizzed along the touchline and hit his near post.

But Jambos remained in control after the break and Templeton tested Randolph with a shot on the hour.

That was the wide boy's last act as, suffering from a virus, he went off to be replaced by Driver. You wouldn't have known the kid was ill and he'd made Motherwell sick.

Taken from the Daily Record