Motherwell made it six league wins from six in dramatic, late fashion as they defeated Hearts 2-1.
Not surprisingly on the back of five successive wins, Stephen Robinson named an unchanged start for the fifth consecutive game.
Hearts aiming for their fourth win over ‘Well this season started the more forceful and inside the opening 10 minutes the towering Uche Ikpeazu had a couple of efforts driven wide of Mark Gillespie’s goal.
Then, in their first attack the Fir Park snatched the opening goal.
There seemed little danger when Liam Grimshaw swept the ball out to Jake Hastie. But full of confidence the teenager dragged the ball towards the box, stepped inside Scotland defender Christophe Berra before rifling a stunning left foot finish high into the net beyond Coin Doyle’s reach.
It was almost identical to Hastie’s opener against St Mirren and similarly boosted the home side who then put the Tynecastle defence under a bit more pressure.
Curtis Main powered through the middle of visitor’s back three only to drive his left foot shot a couple of feet wide of goal. A David Turnbull corner then caused some panic in a packed penalty box before Berra hoofed the ball clear.
The powerful Ikpeazu was proving a real handful and tightly marked Tom Aldred the Hearts’ striker went down appealing for a penalty.
The goal mouth action, though, was at the other end. Alan Campbell wriggled away from a couple of Hearts players before sliding a pass in front of Hastie but although his drive was powerful it was straight at Doyle.
After 31 minutes, Gillespie made his first save diving low to his left to push Oliver Bozanic’s low 20 yard drive round his post.
Five minutes later the “Well ‘keeper was beaten as the visitors equalised. Eight yards in front of goal Steven Naismith completely mishit his first attempt.
However, there was no luck about the Scotland striker’s second touch, reacting quickly to delicately lift the bouncing ball over Gillespie at full stretch and under the ‘keeper’s crossbar to make it 1-1.
Two minutes from the end of a highly competitive first half Gboly Ariyibi set off on a mazy 50 yards run which carried him past three opponents before, from the byline, he fired the ball into the side netting.
It was the on loan Nottingham Forrest winger who was first to make an impression after the restart. Collecting the ball 40 yards from goal Ariyibi held off Conor Shaughnessy as he dribbled the ball into the box before his low shot forced a fine block from Doyle.
The Tynecastle stopper was forced into another fine save in the 57th minute. Charles Dunne played a long diagonal ball intended for Hastie, who had to steal the ball off Jake Mulraney before firing in a low shot which Doyle pushed beyond his post.
Doyle denied ‘Well for the third time 62nd minute. This time Hastie was the provider releasing his fellow teenager Turnbull whose 20 yard drive was sailing under the bar until the Hearts ‘keeper leapt to palm the ball over.
From Turnbull’s corner Main’s downward header was beyond the ‘keeper but Marcus Godinho was on the goal line to boot the ball clear.
In an open game the Edinburgh side were still chasing a winner and twice Aldred’s timely interventions cleared any danger.
In an attempt to stem the flow towards the home goal Carl McHugh replaced Ariyibi after 68 minutes. But his first action was in attack gliding Turnbull’s corner just over the crossbar.
In a rare threat on the home goal, Bozanic’s free kick found its way to Ikpeazu and although his effort was tame the ball was sneaking inside the post until Gillespie reacted smartly to push the ball away from goal.
The action was largely around Doyle’s goal and Hastie’s clever pass picked out Turnbull but he was forced wide at the angle of the six yard box before he could test the ‘keeper.
In a last attempt to grab a deserved winner and make it six consecutive wins James Scott replaced Main but it didn’t look like coming as the game moved into added on time.
However, when Ben Garuccio was sent off for a challenge on Grimshaw 25 yards from goal it provided ‘Well with one final opportunity to score.
Although Turnbull’s curling free kick was on target, Doyle had it covered until the ball squirmed out of ‘keeper’s arms and over the line for a fortunate but thoroughly deserved winner.
