Hearts 1 Motherwell 2
ANDY DEVLIN at TYNECASTLE
Published: 02nd March 2013

JAMES McFADDEN returned to Well with a point to prove.

Against Hearts, the 29-year-old inspired the Steelmen to all three with a performance that was vintage Faddy.

Setting up Michael Higdon’s 20th goal of the season after just three minutes, the Scotland star showed some flashes of brilliance throughout.

Teasing and tormenting the Hearts defence, he proved once and for all he’s lost none of the magic that made him a Well legend.

After this hard-fought 2-1 win, Stuart McCall’s side are all-but guaranteed a top-six finish.

But make no mistake, after back-to-back wins the SPL, they have their sights set on second.

And with McFadden back firing on all cylinders, who would bet against them?

On an appalling surface, Well stormed into a two-goal lead inside eight minutes.

Nicky Law’s effort appeared to be diverted into his own net by Dylan McGowan.

Hearts pushed for an equaliser after John Sutton’s 58th minute header had given them hope.

Well, however, held out to move three points clear of Caley Thistle in second.

This was life after John McGlynn for the Jambos.

Wednesday’s defeat against St Mirren — which signalled the end of McGlynn’s nine month reign — meant Hearts had won just once in their last nine SPL outings.

That came against basement boys Dundee on January 30.

Caretaker boss Gary Locke wasted no time in ringing the changes. Ryan Stevenson, Mehdi Taouil, McGowan and former Well star Sutton all started. Motherwell — who had beaten league leaders Celtic in midweek — made just one change with Tom Hateley replacing the injured Simon Ramsden at right back.

The fortunes of these two sides could not have been more contrasting with the visitors starting the day second-top while Hearts languished second bottom.

It was Motherwell who blazed out of the traps — storming into the lead after just three minutes.

McFadden was the architect — rolling back the years as he skipped away from two desperate challenges.

The ball finally broke for Higdon who took it first time — dispatching a ruthless finish past the helpless Jamie McDonald. Five minutes later and it was 2-0. Law sprung the Hearts offside trap, forcing McDonald into a fine save.

But as the jittery Jambos defence stood and watched, Law moved in to smash home the rebound off McGowan who was out of luck on the Hearts line.

Tynecastle was stunned into silence. It was the nightmare start Locke had feared most.

As the passes continued to go astray the Hearts fans began to turn on their heroes.

Well were first to every ball, winning the 50-50s and dictating the play.

The pitch was badly cut up by now with the ball almost impossible to control when played along the floor.

But that’s no excuse for Well as they blew the chance to move further clear on 27 minutes.

Law played in Higdon who rounded McDonald. The angle was too narrow to take on the shot, but Law and McFadden were both free in the box had Higdon managed to pick them out.

It was a major let-off for Hearts who were battling to get a foothold in the game.

Sutton almost gave them one on the half hour but his header from Jamie Walker’s free kick dropped just wide of Darren Randolph’s left hand post.

The Well keeper was forced into a save on 33 minutes – and it was a pretty good one.

Sutton and Michael Ngoo linked for the first time with Ngoo hooking a shot goalwards.

Randolph got down superbly, however, to the turn it wide.

Stevenson should have scored on 36 minutes after a scramble in the box presented him with a clear sight of Randolph’s goal.

The Hearts man blasted wide.

They made a change at the break with Arvydas Novikovas replacing Callum Tapping.

The sub almost made an immediate impact, releasing Stevenson who squandered the opening.

McGowan was then forced off for Hearts with Fraser Mullen his replacement.

McFadden then lit up proceedings with a sublime bit of skill that took him away from three Hearts players — the final pass just in front of Law.

Well were forced into a change when Chris Humphrey limped off with a hamstring injury — Omar Daley getting a runout.

Then, on 58 minutes, the match exploded in controversy.

Well should have been awarded a throw-in, but linesman Derek Rose gave it the other way.

Hearts forced a corner and from Novikovas’ delivery Sutton swopped to head home.

McCall and his players were livid, but with just over half an hour to go it was game on.

Tynecastle was rocking again — but more disappointment awaited.