Scottish Premiership
MotherwellMotherwell1HeartsHeart of Midlothian3

Motherwell 1-3 Heart of Midlothian

By Chick YoungBBC Scotland at Fir Park
Sam Nicholson (second right)
Sam Nicholson (second right) gave Hearts the lead

Hearts won at Motherwell for the first time since 2010 to move up to second in the Scottish Premiership.

Stephen McManus diverted Sam Nicholson's shot into the bottom corner for the opener.

Callum Paterson thumped in a left-foot shot from distance to make it two.

And after Tony Watt had hit a post, Arnaud Djoum scored the third with a 20-yard shot, before James McFadden's stunning free-kick gave Motherwell a late consolation.

Chris Cadden was injured
Motherwell's Chris Cadden limped off injured in the first half

Hearts had sold 2,000 tickets for the fixture, but their supporters - and indeed the team - were plagued by traffic chaos on most of the main roads leading to Motherwell - including the M8.

There were rich pickings for the winners, a slot behind Celtic in second place in the Premiership. Both managers set up with attacking formations, yet there was a curious absence of real chances.

Watt delayed with his shot and the opening was gone. Ryan Bowman troubled Jack Hamilton in the Hearts goal, but it was a cross that ended up as a shot.

Craig Clay had a deflected effort and that brought a fabulous one handed save from Scotland goalkeeper Jack Hamilton.

Almost right on the half-time whistle Sam Nicholson shot from just outside the box that Samson in the Motherwell goal surely had covered.

However, a wicked double deflection off both Keith Lasley and McManus wrong-footed him and the ball rolled into the goal at his right post.

Hearts wobbling

Goals change games, but that one would not deflect the observation that Hearts needed a half-time rethink because it was clear the partnership of Conor Sammon and Watt was not a marriage made in heaven.

Motherwell thought they had equalised early in the second half when Scott McDonald rattled the bar only for Louis Moult to force the rebound over the line, but it was chalked off by a correct offside decision against McDonald.

Hearts were actually wobbling at this stage until Scotland defender Paterson scored a fabulous goal from around 25 yards; left-footed and with enough power to test the holding power of the net to its very limit.

This time there was no hard luck story for Motherwell to embrace.

More moments of magic

Motherwell's James McFadden scores the free-kick
Motherwell's James McFadden scored a stunning late free-kick

Now, for Robbie Neilson's team, it was simply a task of managing the dying moments of the game. But they did so much more.

Djoum threatened to eclipse even Paterson's effort with another glorious finish which flew beyond Samson.

But there was a final moment of magic.

McFadden scored a trademark free-kick from 30 yards which gave Hamilton no chance. It made little difference to the outcome - but what a joy to watch.

In the end it was a hugely convincing win for Hearts which for a long time most of us couldn't see coming. But luck and class - it is a hard combination to beat.

Manager reaction

Motherwell's Mark McGhee: "I thought the first goal we conceded was ridiculous. We should be clearing our lines and getting in at 0-0.

"First 20 minutes of the second half I thought we were fantastic. We did everything but score, but the second goal kills it.

"I thought we deserved something out of the game.

"We come out of this with a lot of positives. We'll be a stronger squad after the international break with players coming back."

Hearts' Robbie Neilson: "I'm delighted with the three points, it's the first time we've won down here since 2010.

"It was two teams tonight that if they won they went second in the league, so it shows the level we're at, but it shows the level Motherwell are at.

"The first goal is a stroke of luck really, we have Jack Hamilton to thank for keeping us in the game at 0-0. But the first goal took the pressure off the players because the previous games it's been difficult to find the back of the net."

(On goalkeeper Jack Hamilton) "He makes a great save but it's also the little things. He organises the back four, he kicks well, he comes for crosses, he's aggressive, he's vocal and the players love him."

Line-ups

Motherwell

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Samson
  • 2Tait
  • 4Heneghan
  • 6McManus
  • 3Hammell
  • 12CaddenSubstituted forLucasat 26'minutes
  • 14LasleySubstituted forMcFaddenat 71'minutes
  • 20Clay
  • 77McDonald
  • 9Moult
  • 11BowmanSubstituted forAinsworthat 71'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Ainsworth
  • 13Brill
  • 18Lucas
  • 23Thomas
  • 24McFadden
  • 25Ferguson
  • 30McMillan

Hearts

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Hamilton
  • 2Paterson
  • 14Souttar
  • 4RossiBooked at 63mins
  • 3Rherras
  • 11NicholsonSubstituted forBuabenat 81'minutes
  • 6Kitchen
  • 10Sutchuin-Djoum
  • 7WalkerSubstituted forMuirheadat 83'minutes
  • 18SammonSubstituted forJohnsenat 69'minutes
  • 32Watt

Substitutes

  • 5Ozturk
  • 8Buaben
  • 13Noring
  • 19Nowak
  • 20Johnsen
  • 23Muirhead
  • 30Currie
Referee:
Steven McLean
Attendance:
4,666

Match Stats

Home TeamMotherwellAway TeamHearts
Possession
Home48%
Away52%
Shots
Home15
Away17
Shots on Target
Home5
Away5
Corners
Home4
Away5
Fouls
Home14
Away10

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Motherwell 1, Heart of Midlothian 3.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Motherwell 1, Heart of Midlothian 3.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Lee Lucas (Motherwell).

  4. Post update

    Prince Buaben (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Goal!

    Goal! Motherwell 1, Heart of Midlothian 3. James McFadden (Motherwell) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the top right corner.

  6. Post update

    Louis Moult (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Arnaud Djoum (Heart of Midlothian).

  8. Post update

    Attempt missed. Lionel Ainsworth (Motherwell) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high.

  9. Post update

    Attempt missed. Lionel Ainsworth (Motherwell) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

  10. Post update

    Attempt saved. Robbie Muirhead (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  11. Goal!

    Goal! Motherwell 0, Heart of Midlothian 3. Arnaud Djoum (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Robbie Muirhead replaces Jamie Walker.

  13. Post update

    Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Steven Hammell.

  14. Post update

    Tony Watt (Heart of Midlothian) hits the right post with a left footed shot from the centre of the box.

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Prince Buaben replaces Sam Nicholson because of an injury.

  16. Post update

    Attempt missed. Bjorn Johnsen (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner.

  17. Post update

    Attempt missed. Louis Moult (Motherwell) header from the centre of the box is too high.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Ben Heneghan (Motherwell).

  19. Post update

    Tony Watt (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Attempt missed. Scott McDonald (Motherwell) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Celtic65102381516
2Hearts8422147714
3Aberdeen733198112
4St Johnstone732298111
5Ross County72327709
6Motherwell82331112-19
7Rangers7232811-39
8Inverness CT72231115-48
9Dundee7133811-36
10Hamilton7133812-46
11Kilmarnock7133815-76
12Partick Thistle612379-25
View full Scottish Premiership table

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