Motherwell 0-0 Heart of Midlothian

From Hearts Media at the Fir Park.

Hearts came away with a point from Saturday's early kick off at Fir Park, having been held to a 0-0 draw against Motherwell in an evenly contested game.

Hearts were unchanged from the side that defeated St Mirren last weekend, with youngsters Jason Holt and Jamie Walker keeping their places in midfield whilst Ryan Stevenson once again lead the line up front.

The two academy graduates instantly set about proving their worthiness of a place in the starting eleven, as they found themselves at the heart of the majority of Maroon attacks in a first half which the visitors controlled for large periods.

McGlynn's men looked sharp early on and went close when Stevenson forced a fine save from keeper Darren Randolph as he struck a free kick from the edge of the box.

Callum Paterson then put the shot stopper to the test again on the half hour mark as he turned his marker on the D before hitting the ball straight at the keeper.

The home side gradually forced their way into the game, but barring a couple of headers from target man Michael Higdon, they were unable to cause the Hearts defence any considerable problems.

As expected, however, The Steelmen came out with a point to prove after the interval and pegged the Gorgie side back for large periods of the second half.

Higdon wasted the best chance of the game shortly before the hour mark when he found himself clean through on goal, only to be denied by a superb block from Jamie Macdonald.

The hosts continued to look dangerous, particularly down the right flank where pacey winger Chris Humphrey was keen to exploit any gaps. He very nearly put his side ahead when he cut inside Ryan McGowan before hitting a cross-cum-shot off the crossbar form a dead angle.

The Edinburgh side were restricted to the odd counter attack for much of the second half, but were at times guilty of sloppy passing in the final third.

Substitute Arvydas Novikovas combined with Paterson on the edge of the box before dragging a shot wide, whilst Higdon saw his shot blocked on five yards by Dylan McGowan up the other end.

The Jambos then forced a corner in the 94th minute, but Ryan McGowan couldn't get his header on target as it missed the far post by inches.

On the balance of play, however, a draw will be considered a good result for McGlynn's men who can now prepare for the midweek of visit of champions Celtic.

Motherwell: Randolph; Hateley, Cummins, Hutchinson, Hammell (Francis-Angol 88); Humphrey, Lasley, Law, Murphy, Ojamaa; Higdon. Subs not used: Hollis, McHugh, Daley, Carswell, Kerr, Hetherington.

Hearts: Macdonald; R.McGowan, Zaliukas, Webster, Grainger (Taouil 50); Paterson, Barr, D.McGowan, Walker (Novikovas 67), Holt (Sutton 81); Stevenson. Subs not used: Enckelman, G.Smith, Driver, Robinson.

Referee: Crawford Allan

Top man: Dylan McGowan

Hearts World