Heart of Midlothian 1-2 Motherwell

Despite a spirited second half performance, Hearts succumbed to a fifth successive SPL defeat as the loss of two early goals proved extremely costly as the Jambos began life without John McGlynn.

Goals from Michael Higdon and Nicky Law in the first eight minutes proved to be the difference and, despite a battling performance in the second half aided by a John Sutton goal, consigned the luckless Jambos to defeat.

Gary Locke rang the changes after Wednesday night's defeat at St Mirren Park, with youth making way for experience as John Sutton, Mehdi Taouil, Ryan Stevenson and Dylan McGowan returned to the starting line-up, as Hearts set out with an attacking 4-4-2 formation.

Sadly, before the team could get used to the new formation, they found themselves 2-0 down. A combination of a marauding run from the impressive James McFadden, and a weak challenge from Andrew Webster saw the ball break to Michael Higdon, with the Scouser netting his 20th goal of the season with a precise drive from the edge of the area.

Not long after, things got worse for the Jambos as more defensive slackness allowed Nicky Law not one, but two attempts at goal. Despite a good save from Jamie MacDonald, Law buried his second opportunity into the back of the net via Dylan McGowan's right foot.

Hearts were rattled, although the fans loudly backed the players from the stands.

Midway through the first half, things started to click. Jamie Walker had the sting taken out of a shot after some fine play from Callum Tapping, before Michael Ngoo hit a snapshot on the turn only to be denied by a superb save from Darren Randolph in the Motherwell goal.

Hearts came flying out the traps at the beginning of the second half, with Tapping making way for Arvydas Novikovas as Gary Locke and Darren Murray sought to bombard the Motherwell defence with aerial balls, which would prove to be important later in the game.

Ngoo came close soon after the restart as his curling left foot effort went just wide. Hearts were swamping the Motherwell players and, although no goals had been scored, things were looking up.

In the 58th minute, the pressure told. A superb corner from Novikovas found the head of the flying John Sutton, who bulleted a header into the back of the net to nab his 6th goal of the campaign. Hearts' tails were up now, and only the on-rushing Randolph prevented Stevenson from equalising the game.

Despite the vocal encouragement of the Hearts support, however, the boys in maroon couldn't find the leveller. Although the game ended in defeat, the Hearts support could take heart from the fighting performance which, on another day, would have seen the Jam Tarts earning a well deserved point.

Hearts: Macdonald; McGowan (Mullen 51'), Webster, Wilson, McHattie; Stevenson, Tapping (Novikovas 46'), Taouil, Walker (King 76'); Sutton, Ngoo. Subs not used: Ridgers, Holt, Prychynenko, Carrick.

Motherwell: Randolph; Hammell, Law, Hutchison, Hateley, Humphrey (Daley 57'), Ojamaa (McHugh 72'), Higdon, Lasley, McFadden (Carswell 79'), Cummins. Subs not used: Hoolis, Saunders, Higginbotham, Kerr.

Referee: Craig Thomson

Top man: John Sutton

Hearts World