Motherwell 3 Hearts 0

Feb 19 2012 by Euan McLean, Sunday Mail

RAMPANT Motherwell ripped Hearts apart with 10 men to spark their chase for a Champions League spot.

And boss Stuart McCall reckons another three points on Wednesday and even he might start to believe.

The breathtaking destruction of the Jambos opened up a nine-point gap on the Edinburgh side in third, with the prospect of it rising to 12 if Well can beat Hibs in midweek.

And if they do the business in their game in hand they'll be just three points adrift of the Ibrox men.

The Fir Park side are remaining tight-lipped on their Champions League prospects but the time is fast approaching when they must allow themselves to stop looking over their shoulders and focus up the way.

The swashbuckling nature of yesterday's performance only further fed the growing excitement in their support that this season could deliver more than they ever imagined.

But nothing could make boss McCall bite when he was asked about the Champopns League. Not even witnessing his Henrik Ojamaa-inspired side look so impressive.

Andy Webster's own goal and strikes from Jamie Murphy and Nicky Law made them forget all about Keith Lasley's soft dismissal.

If they can maintain this sort of standard, even he knows he can't blank thoughts of a scrap with Rangers for much longer.

McCall said: "Talk to me after Wednesday but we can't get carried away because we had a blip losing three games on the bounce not so long ago and it looked as if the wheels had come off.

"But we've been able to turn our home form around and we're playing with confidence so all I can ask is for the players to keep doing that.

"If it brings us the points to edge closer to Rangers, then great but we just have to look at each game as it comes."

The thrilling show was a marker for Well's desire and belief to produce something special.

From the off they dominated Hearts and only a fine double save from keeper Jamie MacDonald denied Ojamaa and Steve Jennings the opener inside two minutes.

Their passing was slick and their tempo was high while Hearts toiled to produce any real spark. Well's only frustration early on was the 24thminute booking for Lasley for a heavy challenge on Ian Black, which would later prove significant.

A raking shot across goal from a tight angle was the only time Hearts threatened after Ryan McGowan stripped Tim Clancy for pace - but the home side quickly responded to that scare with the opener on 38 minutes.

There was an element of fortune as Murphy's effort was blocked by MacDonald before Lasley's rebound cannoned off Webster and beyond the helpless keeper.

Lasley might be keen to claim it and doubtless Webster would be glad to give him the credit.

However it looked like the shot was going off target until it hit the Hearts man and has to go down as an own goal. But there was no doubt about the next one three minutes later as Well doubled their lead with a beautifully-worked move.

Starting on one side of the pitch, their neat interplay swept across the edge of the Hearts box before finding Lasley on the right flank. His floated cross was perfect for Murphy to head in off the underside of the bar.

Hearts boss Paulo Sergio hooked both anonymous wingers David Templeton and Andrew Driver for Rudi Skacel and Scott Robinson but it made little difference.

In fact their best hope of getting back into this game came on 50 minutes when Lasley left his foot into another tackle on Black and watched in dismay as ref Alan Muir produced a second yellow.

It was undoubtedly a foul but a booking was harsh and the home support make their outrage clear.

That should have been Hearts' cue to turn the tide but you would never have known Well were the side playing with a man down.

It could have been 3-0 but Law was left gutted when his drive from distance crashed back off the bar.

But the Englishman wouldn't be denied for long as Well killed off their visitors with 25 minutes to spare.

This was another goal to cherish as Ojamaa taunted and teased his way in from the left flank, bamboozling three defenders before clipping it outside to Murphy who in turn fed Law rushing into the box to slot home a clinical low finish.

Well had further chances but they had done more than enough already and with third place in the SPL almost assured, don't expect them to stop there.

Taken from the Daily Record