Hearts ensured they remain top of the premier division after winning with
comfort a game which turned in the last minute of the first-half when Motherwell
lost a man, a penalty and a goal.
Kevin Christie's apparent push on David Weir in the area earned him a red card
for a second bookable offence and the punishment was doubled when Colin Cameron
converted the resulting penalty.
Prior to this Hearts had dominated possession but been frustrated by resolute
defending in numbers by the struggling visitors.
It became increasingly inevitable that Hearts would double their advantage
after the break, however, as they used their extra man to good effect.
When it came the goal was a simple one, Thomas Flogel making the most of a
Steve Fulton throughball to slide the ball past Steve Woods after 68 minutes.
Hearts finished the match playing the assured football which has taken them
ahead of the Old Firm so far this campaign, with Neil McCann in particular
exposing Motherwell's loss of Christie.
Without the red card it might have been different, but fortune has favoured
the Edinburgh side lately and now they will look to their capital rivals
Hibernian to surprise Rangers tomorrow.
Hearts welcomed back skipper Neil Pointon after a groin strain, while manager
Jim Jefferies opted for three attackers on the bench including veteran John
Robertson.
The home side attacked from the outset and were close to breaking the deadlock
after 23 minutes when Fulton's corner proved just too high for Paul Ritchie's
leap unmarked at the far post.
Before that Stephane Adam had spurned a fine chance with a downward header
which bounced over the crossbar following a precise cross from McCann.
Motherwell's well-known ability to frustrate their opponents was again to the
fore and Hearts' anxiety at failing to establish the lead their efforts deserved
was becoming evident.
Kevin Christie earned himself a booking for a late lunge on Cameron and from
the free-kick which followed it was Weir's turn to try his luck, but Woods saved
comfortably.
A brilliant overhead kick from Flogel also went just wide, this time from an
Adam cross, and the same duo combined to create an excellent chance for
Cameron.
He was put through with only Woods to beat, but in attempting to place his
shot fired the ball straight into the keeper's legs.
In the final minute of the half, Gary Locke was left grounded by Shaun
McSkimming but the referee ruled the challenge merited just a booking.
Christie was then yellow-carded moments later for pushing Weir in the area
earning the double blow of his marching orders and a penalty.
Cameron stepped up and this time made no mistake from the spot to give Hearts
a last-gasp interval lead with around four minutes of injury time played.
Adam volleyed over the crossbar when well-placed after 56 minutes as Hearts
pressed for a decisive second goal.
Woods' noticeable hesitation from backpasses was exposed by Adam and he picked
out Flogel, whose chip at an empty goal clipped the top of the crossbar.
On the hour McCann found the impressive Flogel again in space on the right,
but his strike drifted wide of the target.
In Hearts' next attack, Scotland prospect McCann drilled in a low cross
towards Adam but the ball was turned to safety by Steve McMillan as the extra
man began to tell for the home team.
By the closing stages, the match was so one-sided Weir felt moved to join the
attack, firing into the side netting with 10 minutes remaining.
Other chances for a more emphatic win were spurned late on, but for the moment
all that matters is Hearts lead the table by four points with the season fast
approaching halfway. The improbable may yet happen.
Teams:
Hearts: Rousset, Locke, Pointon, Weir, Salvatori, Ritchie,
McCann, Fulton (Hamilton 73), Adam (Quitongo 82), Cameron,
Flogel (Robertson 73).
Goals: Cameron 45 pen, Flogel 68.
Motherwell: Woods, May, McMillan, Christie, Craigan, Philliben,
Hendry (Arnott 82), Ross, Coyne (Shivute 71), McSkimming, Coyle.
Subs Not Used: Denham.
Sent Off: Christie (45).
Booked: Christie, McMillan, Craigan, McSkimming, Ross.
Att: 12,706
Ref: G Clyde (Bearsden).
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