Motherwell produced an impressive all round team performance to beat Hearts for a commanding 3-1 win.
The home side largely controlled proceedings for the first hour and their dominance and pressure on the Hearts goal was rewarded with a two goal lead thanks to headed efforts from Paul McGinn and Stephen O’Donnell.
But Hearts remained in the game. Yutaro Oda’s goal after 66 minutes provided the Edinburgh side with a second wind as they chased an equaliser that looked beyond them.
However eight minutes from time, Tom Sparrow found the perfect moment to claim his first goal in claret and amber to restore ‘Well’s two goal advantage and round off a fabulous 90 minutes from the Steelmen.
After their extra-time Premier Sports Cup win over Kilmarnock last Sunday, Stuart Kettlewell, not surprisingly, made one significant change to his starting line-up.
After making a huge impact from the bench to overcome a stubborn Rugby Park side, former Leicester City youth Tawanda Maswanhise was given his first start. Deployed further upfield, he replaced Steve Seddon, with Ewan Wilson dropping back on the left side.
For the second consecutive game, Motherwell faced a side recovering from the rigours of a midweek European tie.
Steven Naismith’s men appeared to suffer no hangover from the narrow defeat to Czech opponents Victoria Plzen, who visit Tynecastle on Thursday evening.
Hearts showed lots of energy and possession opening minutes but that soon evaporated as the Steelmen set about pressing the visitor’s goal for most of the first half.
The first of several attacks came after nine minutes when Wilson released Maswanhise, who cut inside his marker before seeing his shot blocked.
Blair Spittal, on his first return to Fir Park, then gave possession to Liam Gordon and his cross ball set up Maswanhise and this time his shot was deflected for a corner. Lennon Miller’s free kick found Dan Casey rising in the six yard box, only to power his header wide.
The ‘Well players were confident in possession and after 22 minutes, a sustained period of keeping the ball only forced an outstanding save from Craig Gordon to deny the home side the lead.
As the ball was moved from the right to the left wing, Maswanhise slung the ball beyond the Hearts’ back post. O’Donnell stretched to direct the ball back across the face of goal and Andy Halliday’s header looked destined for the back of the net until the veteran Scotland keeper somehow reacted to deflect the ball over his crossbar.
The deserved opener was only delayed three minutes. From a well rehearsed free kick, Miller floated the ball beyond a line of players at the edge of the box to pick out McGinn who stooped to head the ball back across Gordon and into his far corner of the net.
On the half hour mark the 41 year-old ‘keeper produced another fine stop. Again, it was a flowing build up from the home side until Wilson fed Maswanhise, who nipped between two defenders before hammering a shot high towards goal, which Gordon pushed over the bar.
A second goal at this stage would surely have rattled a tired looking Tynecastle side.
But 10 minutes from the break they almost levelled when Spittal’s low drive through a packed home box was cleared off the line by Wilson.
On the stroke of half-time, Halliday, who was impressive against his former club, took a heavy knock and it was no surprise when five minutes into the second half, he was replaced by Tony Watt.
Within a minute and with his first touch, the substitute’s thumping angled drive forced Gordon to beat the ball away.
The Edinburgh side was unable to match ‘Well’s continued press and energy and it was no surprise when they conceded a second goal on the hour mark.
Wilson was tripped as he sped down the left touchline and when Miller whipped the resultant free kick towards the six yard area, O’Donnell nipped in to plant his header past Gordon.
That produced a long overdue threat on Aston Oxborough’s from the visitors.
It took a brilliant block from Casey after 65 minutes to deny Lawrence Shankland from 16 yards.
A minute later, Hearts found the net when substitute Oda dragged the ball across the 18 yard box before squeezing his low shot between the ‘Well keeper and his left hand post.
Suddenly, Naismith’s men were on the front foot and it was the Steelmen’s turn to be camped around their own box.
That prompted Kettlewell to make a double substitution in the 73rd minute, bringing on Tom Sparrow and Steve Seddon, in place of Robinson and Maswanhise, leaving Watt to fill the sole striker’s role.
And it was Sparrow who killed off any thoughts of a late fightback, when he darted into the box and from an angle, drove the ball past Gordon to make certain that all three points were staying at Fir Park.
