Motherwell 3-0 Heart of Midlothian
From Hearts Media at Fir Park.

Hearts ambitions of a third place finish were dealt a hammer blow as they crashed to a 3-0 defeat against Motherwell in Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash at Fir Park.

Keith Lasley and Jamie Murphy put Stuart McCall's side two goals up in the first half, before Lasley was given his marching orders for a second yellow card shortly after the interval. Nicky Law's strike on the hour mark put the game to bed, however, as the Jambos failed to make their man advantage count.

Following the midweek heroics at St Johnstone, Paulo Sergio saw fit to freshen up his side as they embarked on their fifth game in thirteen days.

Ian Black returned to the heart of midfield in place of Rudi Skacel, whilst Mehdi Taouil made way for David Templeton on the right flank.

Meanwhile, Ryan McGowan replaced Jamie Hamill at right back, whilst Andrew Driver was given a starting berth on the left side of midfield as the Jam Tarts went in search of their first league victory in over a month.

The Jambos had Jamie MacDonald to thank for not being a goal down inside five minutes, as the keeper made an excellent double save after spilling a cross from Tom Hateley. Henrik Ojamaa reacted first but his effort from seven yards was blocked by the keeper, who then stopped the rebound effort from Steven Jennings with his feet.

The Steelmen enjoyed a bright start to the game, but despite dominating possession they were unable to breach the maroon rear guard.

Hearts struggled to find their attacking rhythm during the opening half hour, but went mighty close on 35 minutes as Adrian Mrowiec's defence splitting past sent McGowan free on the right. The Australian cut inside and dragged his shot across goal only to see it narrowly miss the far post.

Action immediately switched to the other end, where MacDonald was again forced into making a reaction save from close range. The ball trickled out into the box, however, enabling Keith Lasley to hit a shot via Andy Webster and into the empty net.

Hearts were then forced into a substitution as the injured Templeton was replaced by Skacel, and the Czech midfielder instantly found himself in the action as his shot from inside the box was pushed clear by the keeper.

With the game swinging from one end to the other, the home side piled on the misery for the Jambos as they doubled their lead shortly before the interval. Lasley's cross from the right found the head of Jamie Murphy who guided the ball into the roof of the net past the outstretched MacDonald.

Hearts were rattled by the two goals in quick succession, and MacDonald had to dive into the feet of Ojamaa after a through ball from Michael Higdon threatened to put the striker clear on the stroke of half time.

Scott Robinson replaced Driver for the start of the second half as Hearts set about clawing back the two goal deficit.

Truth be told, they were unlucky not to be three goals down within a minute as Ojamaa pounced on some hesitant defending inside the box, but once again MacDonald was on hand to block his effort.

Sergio's men were then handed a lifeline on 50 minutes as Lasley was sent off for a second bookable offence on Black.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, however, Motherwell showed no signs of letting up as Nicky Law twice came within inches of finding the net; rattling the right post on his second attempt from the edge of the box.

The game was end to end at this stage; a heavy touch by Elliott preventing him from pulling a goal back after a fine ball from McGowan found him on the five yard mark.

The home side, however, continued to press forward and were rewarded for their persistence shortly after the hour mark as they put the tie to bed with their third goal of the afternoon.

A fine solo raid from Ojamaa saw him cut inside before laying the ball off to Murphy on the edge of the box. He duly fed the ball right to Law who rushed into the area before pinging an unstoppable shot off the near post and into the net.

An in-swinging Hateley free kick from the left almost beat MacDonald shortly after as the Gorgie side struggled to penetrate the Well defence despite enjoying the majority of possession after the third goal.

It almost got worse for the Jam Tarts on 86 minutes as man of the match Ojamaa once again cut inside from the left before finding Michael Higdon unmarked on the back post, but the big striker was left red faced as the ball inexplicably escaped through his legs as he went to poke it over the line.

Despite the miss, their three goal advantage enabled them to comfortably see out the remaining minutes, thus creating a nine point gap between themselves and the Jambos in fourth.

It concluded a bitterly disappointing afternoon for the Edinburgh side, who must now re-group ahead of the visit of Dundee United next Saturday.

Motherwell: Randolph; Hammell, Hutchinson, Clancy, Law; Hateley, Jennings, Lasley, Higdon; Murphy, Ojamaa (Daley 88). Subs not used: Bradley, Craigan, Humphrey, McHugh, Forbes, Carswell.

Hearts: MacDonald; McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Black (Taouil65),Mrowiec,Obua,Templeton (Skacel38), Driver(Robinson45); Elliott. Subs not used: Ridgers, Barr, Glen, Morton.

Referee: Alan Muir

Top man: Ian Black

Hearts World