Heart of Midlothian 0-1 Motherwell

From Hearts Media at Tynecastle.

Hearts European chances suffered a major blow as Motherwell snatched a vital 1-0 win in tonight's Clydesdale Bank Premier League encounter at Tynecastle.

Michael Higdon's first-half strike proved to be the difference as the Steelmen left Gorgie with three vital points in their quest for Champions League qualification.

Paulo Sergio made three changes to his side from Saturday's 2-2 draw against Dundee Utd at Tannadice. Mehdi Taouil, David Templeton and Stephen Elliott came in for Craig Beattie, Rudi Skacel and Andrew Driver.

Elliott blazed an early effort past the post from outside the area, and Darren Barr fired a good shot from 25 yards just over the bar as Hearts asserted some early pressure.

Motherwell began to come into the game, with wide man Jamie Murphy looking particularly dangerous. Jamie MacDonald then got down well to save a swivelling Michael Higdon shot, the big striker not connecting as cleanly as he would have liked.

The topsy-turvy game was starting to go from end to end, and Hearts created another opening when Taouil scuffed his shot wide after some lovely passing involving Suso and Elliott.

Despite this, Motherwell took the lead as the ever more dangerous Murphy cut in from the left to fire a stinging shot at MacDonald, whose effort to beat the ball away only succeeded in landing at Higdon's feet, with the Scouser able to bend the ball round Marius Zaliukas who had tried to block the ball on the line.

That was the last action of the first half, with the away side controlling possession and seemingly happy to protect their lead.

The second half began as the first had ended, with neither team able to gain the ascendancy despite Hearts introducing top scorer Rudi Skacel at the interval. Finally, however, Hearts began to start getting the ball into more dangerous areas.

A lovely ball from Ian Black played in David Templeton who made space with some fancy footwork but unfortunately the winger couldn't hit his strike cleanly and Darren Randolph saved comfortably.

Some flying wing play from Andy Webster of all people then set up Rudi Skacel at the edge of the box but the club's top scorer dragged his shot wide. Hearts were really beginning to get a foothold in the game now, and a Danny Grainger free-kick was met by Darren Barr, the ex-Falkirk man's header skimming the post for a goal kick.

Hearts had the ball in the net on 73 minutes but Suso's terrific volley was correctly adjudged to have been offside by the Wheatfield linesman.

The final chance of the game fell to David Templeton who fired into the side netting from a tight angle after a fine pass from stand-in right back Marius Zaliukas as Hearts slumped to a disappointing home defeat.

Hearts: MacDonald; McGowan, Zaliukas, Webster, Grainger; Barr, Black (Driver 75), Taouil (Skacel 46); Suso, Elliott (Glen 75), Templeton. Subs not used: Ridgers, Novikovas, Robinson, Prychynenko.

Motherwell: Randolph,; Hammell, Law, Hateley, Humphrey (Daley 82), Jennings, Higdon, Murphy (Ojaama 77), Lasley, Hutchinson, Clancy. Subs not used: Hollis, Saunders, Craigan, Page, Forbes.

Referee: Brian Winter

Top man: Darren Barr

Taken from the Scotsman