Motherwell 0-0 Heart of Midlothian

Motherwell again failed to find the net at Fir Park as they were held by Hearts in a disappointing Clydesdale Bank Premier League contest.

The home side had the better of the second half after a poor first 45 minutes but their final ball was lacking.

Hearts had a penalty claim rejected when Darren Randolph caught Callum Paterson with his knee as he collected a high ball but referee Crawford Allan was the best-placed man in the stadium to judge and did not appear to think twice about ignoring the appeals.

Both sides were unchanged after victories last weekend but Motherwell could not find the form of their 5-1 win at Inverness, their fourth on the road this season.

They have now only won once in 10 home games and have failed to score in four of the last five matches at Fir Park.

The game started well enough with Randolph diving well to push away Ryan Stevenson's powerful free-kick.

Motherwell's first chance came when Chris Humphrey got round Danny Grainger and found Michael Higdon with a deep cross but the striker headed wide from a difficult opportunity.

The controversy came in the 13th minute when Randolph and Paterson chased a high ball from opposite directions. The home player was favourite to get to the ball and did so but sparked an angry reaction from several visiting players after colliding with the Hearts striker.

On initial viewing, the Republic of Ireland international's trailing boot appeared to have come down on to Paterson's face but television replays showed the movement was entirely natural after Randolph caught the striker with his knee as he leapt for the ball.

Allan was ideally placed and re-started the game following treatment by dropping the ball to Randolph after deciding there was no intent or dangerous play. The goalkeeper later took the opportunity to apologise to Paterson during a break in play.

There was little else to get excited about in the first half. Higdon came closer with another header from a Humphrey cross but Jamie MacDonald dived to push the ball away.

Hearts were slightly the better team before the break with their 4-2-3-1 formation allowing youngsters Jamie Walker and Jason Holt some freedom to attack along with Stevenson.

The trio combined to set up Paterson to turn and shoot 22 yards out but Randolph got down well to hold.

Grainger, who earlier hurt his left knee as he fell awkwardly, went off in the 51st minute just after being booked for a body check on Humphrey. Mehdi Taouil came on with Darren Barr dropping into the back four.

Motherwell had stepped up a gear after the break but their crossing was consistently letting down their build-up play.

Higdon had another chance when Jamie Murphy broke forward and played him through but MacDonald was quickly out and got a hand to the ball as the striker tried to skip round him.

Higdon played it back for Murphy but Hearts had plenty of players blocking the way to goal and Dylan McGowan diverted the ball wide.

Randolph saved from Walker but Hearts were becoming more reliant on the counter-attack.

Motherwell hit the bar midway through the half, but only as a result of another wayward cross as Humphrey's centre bounced on top of the goal frame.

Humphrey threatened again with 10 minutes left in more impressive fashion, beating Ryan McGowan on the edge of the box and firing a powerful effort that MacDonald blocked.

Henrik Ojamaa set up Higdon from the resulting corner but the striker could not get hold of his shot, and soon diverted the ball just wide of the near post after a cross from the Estonian, although he was challenged well by Marius Zaliukas.

Hearts almost snatched victory in the final seconds when Ryan McGowan headed just wide from a corner.

1. Darren Randolph
6. Tom Hateley
5. Shaun Hutchinson
30. Adam Cummins
3. Steven Hammell 88'
7. Chris Humphrey
14. Keith Lasley
4. Nicky Law
11. Jamie Murphy
9. Michael Higdon
8. Henrik Ojamaa

Subs

12. Lee Hollis
16. Robert McHugh
17. Omar Daley
18. Stuart Carswell
19. Fraser Kerr
26. Zaine Francis-Angol 88'
27. Steven Hetherington

1. Jamie MacDonald
4. Ryan McGowan
26. Marius Zaliukas
6. Andy Webster
3. Danny Grainger 51'
5. Darren Barr
19. Dylan McGowan
33. Callum Paterson
15. Jason Holt 82'
14. Jamie Walker 68'
7. Ryan Stevenson

Subs

21. Peter Enckelman
8. Scott Robinson
9. John Sutton 82'
10. Mehdi Taouil 51'
11. Andrew Driver
12. Gordon Smith
18. Arvydas Novikovas 68'

The match has reached full-time.

Arvydas Novikovas takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Ryan McGowan has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.
93

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Cummins on Ryan Stevenson. Arvydas Novikovas takes the direct free kick.
90

Stevie Hammell goes off and Zaine Francis-Angol comes on.
87

Corner taken by Arvydas Novikovas played to the near post, clearance made by Nicky Law.
87

Unfair challenge on Stevie Hammell by Callum Paterson results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Tom Hateley.
85

Henrik Ojamaa fouled by Dylan McGowan, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Hateley takes the free kick.
82

Effort from deep inside the area by Michael Higdon misses to the right of the target. John Sutton comes on in place of Jason Holt.
81

Tom Hateley takes the outswinging corner, Effort on goal by Michael Higdon from 12 yards. Blocked by Dylan McGowan.
80

Drilled left-footed shot by Chris Humphrey. Save by Jamie MacDonald.
79

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Arvydas Novikovas played to the near post.
74

Ryan Stevenson challenges Jamie Murphy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Stevie Hammell.
71

Corner taken by Arvydas Novikovas.
69

Arvydas Novikovas takes a shot. Blocked by Stevie Hammell.
69

The ball is crossed by Chris Humphrey.
68

Jamie Walker leaves the field to be replaced by Arvydas Novikovas.
67

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Webster by Michael Higdon. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.
64

Callum Paterson is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Darren Randolph.
63

Mehdi Taouil produces a cross, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Ryan Stevenson misses to the left of the goal.
62

Jason Holt gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Cummins. Darren Randolph takes the free kick.
62

The referee gives a free kick against Mehdi Taouil for handball. Darren Randolph takes the direct free kick.
59

Tom Hateley takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Adam Cummins misses to the right of the target.
57

Jamie Murphy takes a shot. Dylan McGowan gets a block in.
56

Jamie Walker takes a shot. Save made by Darren Randolph.
56

The official flags Callum Paterson offside. Shaun Hutchinson takes the indirect free kick.
54

Foul by Henrik Ojamaa on Ryan Stevenson, free kick awarded. Darren Barr takes the direct free kick.
52

The assistant referee signals for offside against Jamie Murphy. Andy Webster takes the indirect free kick.
51

Keith Lasley challenges Andy Webster unfairly and gives away a free kick. (Hearts) makes a substitution, with Mehdi Taouil coming on for Daniel Grainger. Andy Webster takes the free kick.
49

Unfair challenge on Chris Humphrey by Daniel Grainger results in a free kick. The referee cautions Daniel Grainger for unsporting behaviour. Shaun Hutchinson takes the direct free kick.
48

Jamie Murphy sends in a cross, save made by Jamie MacDonald.
47

Ryan McGowan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamie Murphy. Direct free kick taken by Stevie Hammell.
45

The second half begins.

Corner taken by Tom Hateley from the right by-line, clearance made by Daniel Grainger. Free kick awarded for a foul by Stevie Hammell on Callum Paterson. Daniel Grainger takes the free kick.
24

Corner taken by Tom Hateley from the right by-line.
39

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Andy Webster.
39

The referee blows for half time.

Shaun Hutchinson challenges Callum Paterson unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Daniel Grainger.
46

Henrik Ojamaa challenges Daniel Grainger unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie MacDonald restarts play with the free kick.
45

Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren Barr on Michael Higdon. Keith Lasley takes the direct free kick.
42

Corner taken by Tom Hateley from the right by-line.
39

Tom Hateley takes a shot. Darren Barr gets a block in.
38

Ryan Stevenson has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide right of the goal.
37

Effort from outside the penalty area by Henrik Ojamaa goes wide left of the target.
31

Callum Paterson takes a shot. Save by Darren Randolph.
30

Marius Zaliukas takes a shot. Darren Randolph makes a save.
28

Daniel Grainger takes a outswinging corner.
27

The referee shows Stevie Hammell a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
24

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Andy Webster, Tom Hateley manages to make a clearance. Foul by Stevie Hammell on Callum Paterson, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Andy Webster.
24

Chris Humphrey produces a cross, Michael Higdon takes a shot. Save made by Jamie MacDonald.
24

Stevie Hammell fouled by Ryan McGowan, the ref awards a free kick. Darren Randolph takes the free kick.
22

Keith Lasley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Stevenson. Marius Zaliukas takes the free kick.
19

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Daniel Grainger by Chris Humphrey. Free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
13

Henrik Ojamaa is ruled offside. Jamie MacDonald restarts play with the free kick.
9

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Henrik Ojamaa by Ryan McGowan. Nicky Law takes the direct free kick.
9

Nicky Law challenges Jason Holt unfairly and gives away a free kick. Daniel Grainger crosses the ball in from the free kick, Michael Higdon makes a clearance.
8

Centre by Chris Humphrey, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Michael Higdon misses to the right of the goal.
7

Chris Humphrey is ruled offside. Jamie MacDonald takes the indirect free kick.
6

Outswinging corner taken by Daniel Grainger, Stevie Hammell makes a clearance.
4

Shaun Hutchinson challenges Jamie Walker unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ryan Stevenson has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, save made by Jamie MacDonald.
3

The referee starts the match.