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Christopher Long’s early goal is cancelled out as Motherwell secure a top six place with a 1-1 draw at Hearts.

“We’re a little disappointed we didn’t get three points. We’re aren’t going to rest now. We want third spot.”

Stephen Robinson speaks as Motherwell secure a top six place with a 1-1 draw at Hearts.

Motherwell secured a top six finish with a draw at Hearts.

Christopher Long’s first half goal was a deserved reward for the visitors’ performance, but they were pegged back early in the second half with Conor Washington’s close-range strike.

Stephen Robinson stuck with the same starting team which won 4-1 against Ross County in midweek, looking to tighten the grip on third spot.

Both sides had early chances. Declan Gallagher saw a header from a corner go straight at Zlamal from a corner, while there was a heart in the mouth moment straight after.

As Gillespie came outside the box and dealt with a through ball well, his clearance fell at the feet of Clare on the halfway line. Getting the ball out of his feet, his 60-yard shot was perfectly on target and kept out only by the intervention of Campbell, who chested the ball down just short of the line and cleared.

That clearance came at a cost, however, as the midfielder was forced off with injury soon after. Barry Maguire took his place.

Motherwell’s goal would come almost straight after. Halkett’s ball forward was charged down by Long and he was immediately alive to pounce on the second ball.

Bursting away from 40 yards out, he eventually rounded the goalkeeper and found the bottom left corner of the net from a tight angle.

The chance to go two ahead should have arrived moments later. A unique four versus one counter attack from Motherwell saw the visitors queuing up for a chance at goal, with Polworth slipping Hylton in on the right side of the box.

As he went to pull the trigger, he was cleaned out by goalkeeper Zlamal with both feet. But referee Don Robertson ruled the forward fallen over of his own accord and gave a goal kick.

Within three minutes of the start of the second half, Hearts were level. Naismith got free on the left side of the box and fizzed the ball back across for Washington to steer home from close range.

Hearts’ tails were up as they tried to seize the chance to pull themselves off the bottom. But Motherwell stood defensively firm and grew back into the match to carve out a host of chances.

Hylton had the best of the lot with a spectacular half-volley scissor kick from outside the box which looked bound for the bottom corner of the net, only for Zlamal to get down and keep it out at the last second.

“We’ve spoken about belief in what we do and trying to do the right things. Hopefully we can continue it on Saturday.”

Stephen Robinson speaks ahead of the trip to Hearts.

There’s a live stream and live audio available from Hearts v Motherwell on Saturday.

We’ve live video of the match available to viewers outside of the UK and Ireland for just £12 a month. Kick off is at 3pm GMT.

To subscribe and get all Motherwell home matches – and the majority of away games – head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk now and sign up.

If you’re in the UK or Ireland and can’t make it, don’t worry. We’ve also got live audio commentary of the match for just £5.99 a month.

Head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk to sign up. Just choose the UK/Ireland commentary option.

2019/20 Motherwell streaming service matches

Bevis Mugabi has been called into the Uganda squad for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double header with South Sudan.

The 24-year-old, who has been capped 10 times by his country, will travel for games at home on 28 March and then away on 31 March.

Uganda currently top their qualifying group with four points from their opening two games. Opponents South Sudan are bottom, having lost both of their first fixtures.

He will be joined by Hearts striker Uche Ikpeazu, who has been called into the national team for the first time.

Motherwell resume the race for third – and look to secure top six status – at Hearts on Saturday.

Kick-off at Tynecastle Park is at 3pm.

Tale of the tape

It’s third against bottom in Edinburgh, but the hosts are the form team going into the fixture.

Daniel Stendel’s men temporarily lifted themselves off the foot with a derby win at Hibernian on Tuesday. But they were bumped back down by Hamilton Academical’s shock 1-0 win at Rangers 24 hours later.

With three wins, a draw and a defeat in their last five, the Gorgie side are in strong form.

Motherwell ended a run of eight without a win with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Ross County at home on Wednesday, a win which demonstrated the return to form for Stephen Robinson’s team.

Head to head

The two sides have met three times in the 2019/20 campaign, with Motherwell winning two and Hearts the other.

Hearts’ victory came in the first encounter, a 2-1 Betfred Cup win at Fir Park.

The Steelmen responded with a 3-2 win at Tynecastle in the league soon after, before a 1-0 victory at home in late 2019.

Buy in advance or buy at the ground

There will be a ticket pod available at Tynecastle. Supporters should arrive in plenty time to purchase tickets.

Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.

Can’t make it? Listen live

There’s a live stream available outside of the UK/Ireland, and live audio available to all from Hearts v Motherwell on Saturday.

To subscribe and get all Motherwell home matches – and the majority of away games – head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk now and sign up.

Allan Campbell netted a double, with Mark O’Hara and Tony Watt also scoring, as Motherwell come from behind to win 4-1 against Ross County.

“We spoke about belief this week. They believed in themselves and the result showed their character.”

Stephen Robinson reacts to Motherwell’s win over Ross County.

Motherwell returned to their winning ways with an emphatic win over Ross County.

And, with the benefit of the other midweek results, the Steelmen extended their lead in third place in the race for a Europa League slot.

Following a frugal February where they gained a solitary league point, Motherwell moved into March determined to firm up their grip on third place in Ladbrokes Premiership.

And after conceding a goal to Liam Fontaine after only three minutes, the Steelmen showed tremendous character to fightback with some style and renewed confidence to comfortably claim their first home win since December.

Goals from Mark O’Hara and Allan Campbell had the ‘Well ahead at the break. This time there was no chance of a second half fight back from the Dingwall side, as Campbell claimed his second before Tony Watt grabbed his first league goal for the Fir Park side in the final minute.

Having served his one-match suspension, Christopher Long returned to lead the attack. Stephen Robinson elected not to partner him with Tony Watt for the first time at Fir Park, preferring to go with the speed of Jermaine Hylton and Rolando Aarons to support from wide positions. The only other change was the one enforced by Liam Donnelly’s absence due to a two-match suspension, with Mark O’Hara filling the anchor role in midfield.

In keeping with the Scottish Government guidelines on reducing the spread of coronavirus, players and officials declined to shake hands before the kick-off. Whether the reduction in person-to-person contact extended to goal celebrations wasn’t clear.

It didn’t take long to find out, though, as County players hugged one another in celebration of the opening goal inside the first three minutes.

Former ‘Well man Iain Vigurs curled in a low corner and Fontaine, unmarked, swept the ball low past Mark Gillespie for the worst possible start for the under pressure Steelmen.

Still, better to go behind early than concede a late winner – Motherwell had 87 minutes to respond to that setback.

And it was almost immediate when five minutes later Allan Campbell stooped to meet Aarons’ cross but he headed the ball straight into the arms of the waiting Ross Laidlaw.

At the other end Gillespie made his first and only real save of the game reacting superbly after Billy McKay’s 18 yard drive took a deflection on its way to goal.

With 16 minutes on the clock, the hard working Long earned a free kick 30 yards from goal. And although Aarons thumping free kick deflected for a corner, Motherwell profited from Liam Polworth’s delivery. Hartley lurking at the back of the six yard box returned the ball across the area and as it bounced in front of goal, O’Hara slammed it low into the net to level the scores.

Two minutes later it was almost a repeat when from Polworth’s corner, Gallagher left it for Peter Hartley but his powerful header was cleared off the line.

In the 25th minute ‘Well turned their pressure into a second goal. Gallagher’s superb ball out of defence sent Liam Grimshaw to the opposite byeline. His cross towards the penalty spot was chested down by Hylton before his volleyball rebounded from the crossbar. The ball fell for Campbell who took a touch before firing beyond the ‘keeper to make it 2-1.

It might have been more for the Fir Park side as couple of low drives skipped narrowly past the post.

Ahead once again at the interval, the question was how Robinson’s men would approach the second half.

The intentions were clear, though, to keep pressure on an overstretched County defence. And within the first ten minutes ‘Well should have extended their lead.

Firstly, Campbell broke upfield with Polworth and Long on either side but when the ball was finally worked to Aarons his shot was blocked at the edge of the box.

Then Long cut in from the wing but as he hared towards the front post he should have rolled the ball to the waiting Polworth rather than rattle his shot off the foot of the post.

The ‘Well striker was again denied in the 58th minute when Aarons’ tempting cross fell between O’Hara and Long and the latter’s strike from four yards looked destined for the net only for Laidlaw to produce a fabulous reflex save to palm the ball away.

Undeterred, the Steelmen continued to pepper the visitor’s goal with a series of crosses but it still needed a third goal to kill off any chance of the Dingwall side stealing a point.

Fifteen minutes from time the third arrived. Long collected Tait’s throw-in and after twisting his way to the byeline he drilled the ball across the six-yard box leaving Campbell with a simple tap in and claim his second goal of the game.

Long’s efforts were acknowledged by the home fans as he received a standing ovation as he made way for Watt.

Aarons’ part in the victory was also recognised when he came off providing Christian Ilic with around eight minutes to get involved in the action.

By then the points were firmly in the bag as the home side controlled the game until the end.

The icing on the cake came in the final minute when after some delightful interchanging passes from the midfield, man of the match Campbell slid the ball in front of Watt and from wide on the right he drilled the ball across Laidlaw and inside the ‘keeper’s right hand post.