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[tab:Match report]

Kris Jack at Tynecastle

There would be no gift of a win from Father Christmas as the Steelmen slipped to their first away defeat in six outings.

Two first half goals from Hearts ensured the three points stayed in the Capital; an Ian Black effort from distance and a tap in from Stephen Elliot, both created by David Templeton, were enough to edge out over a Motherwell side who struggled to get in to the game.

The suspension of Steve Jennings via the Fast track Judiciary system decision for his involvement in last week’s melee with Jim Goodwin meant Stephen Hughes occupied the vacant midfield berth.

Michael Higdon was first to test Kello in the Hearts goal, when he picked up Omar Daley’s deflected effort on the edge of the box. His angled drive from twelve yards was smothered by the home side’s keeper at the second attempt.

Hearts first effort on goal came when David Templeton latched on to a long ball over Tom Hateley’s head, before cutting in and playing the ball across goal. His pass was deflected goalward off Shaun Hutchinson, but Darren Randolph reacted to beat it out then smother to quell the threat.

It was a spritely start to the game, where both sides looked to pass the ball on the deck. Daley had a great run down the left ended by a great sliding tackle from Ryan McGowan, while Mehdi Taouil and Scott Robinson offered plenty width on the right for the Jambos.

The Edinburgh side were enjoying the better of the wing play, with McGowan powering down the line on a number of occasions only to be let down by his final ball. However, It was from the left wing that Hearts took the lead on sixteen minutes.

David Templeton bested Tom Hateley on the touchline and ran at the ‘Well defence. His effort was blocked by Shaun Hutchinson, but the ball made its way to Ian Black who had time to measure and dispatch a shot in to Randolph’s bottom left corner from the edge of the box. It was a good strike from the Hearts midfielder, who has reportedly taken to painting and decorating to make up for his unpaid wages.

Motherwell looked to bounce back immediately and Stephen Hughes may have done better when the ball dropped to him at the edge of the Hearts box; his effort sailed harmlessly over Kello’s bar from Higdon’s pass.

Templeton was fast becoming a real threat and was unlucky to see a great effort form 20 yards narrowly go the wrong side of the upright after 23 minutes.  However, the winger was soon to be the creator of Hearts second goal.

The youngster drifted past Hateley with ease on the left flank before driving in to the box unchallenged. His ball across goal was tucked in by the unmarked Stephen Elliot.

Jamie Murphy endeavoured to create a chance after getting to a ball played over Jamie Hamill’s head, but Kello clutched the nippy forward’s cross from the byeline.  Hearts continued to look for a third and were almost gifted one when Randolph’s first time clearance cannoned off Templeton, before dropping wide.

The closest Motherwell came to pegging their hosts back in the first half was when Omar Daley wriggled free of two markers at the byeline, fizzed a ball along the deck, which somehow hit the post, hit Zaliukas and ended up in the grateful hands of Kello. It was the luck that would plague the silver-clad Steelmen for much of the afternoon!

Ian Black was the first to have a crack at goal in the second half, after Mehdi Taouil worked space for him; however his effort went well over on this occasion. Down the other end, Hateley was unlucky to see Marian Kello claw his wind assisted in-swinger of a corner kick out from the bar, as Motherwell looked to use the windy conditions to their advantage.

A slip by the right back almost cost ‘Well a third, when Templeton ran on to a ball he should have cut out. However, Randolph denied him with a smart stop at his front post. It was to be his last involvement, as Andy Driver came on his place.

Bob McHugh and Stuart Carswell came on for Murphy and Hughes as McCall looked to shake things up. Young Carswell’s first involvement was to be hacked down in the middle of the park, but he recovered to continue.

As full-time drew near. Keith Lasley earned ‘Well a free kick on the edge of the box, when Zaliuska blocked off his run. A goal at this stage would’ve given ‘Well hope for the remaining few minutes but Tom Hateley sent the free kick an inch or two too high.

It was to be the last real chance for Motherwell, as Hearts continued to create half chances, with Taouil, Robinson and Elliot all firing over as the game came to its conclusion.

It was a bad day at the office for Motherwell who will now focus on Dunfermline on Wednesday night as an opportunity to get the defeat out the system.

[tab:As it happened]

Kris Jack at Tynecastle

Full Time Hearts 2 Motherwell 0. Oh well, here’s to a joyous Christmas! happy holidays folks!

90mins – Taouil blasts well over for Hearts as 5 mins of added on time are added on.

87mins – Taouil twists and turns Tom Hateley, but his cross lands on roof of net. Skacel on for Black.

83mins – Lasley penalised on edge of box for Elliot jumping in to him. Poor call by ref.

80mins – Robinson goes close with a daisy cutter from about 20 yards.

78mins – …which goes inches over from the right boot of Tom Hateley.

78mins – Lasley runs in to Zaliukas and earns free kick on edge of box…

72mins – Barr replacing injured Hamill.

72mins – Well fans in great voice this afternoon, allegedly 800 in attendance. Cheers for coming folks!

72mins – Jamie Hamill stretchered off after going down unchallenged in some distress. Looks a bad ‘un.

65mins – Carswell and Mchugh on for Murphy and Hughes. Carswell scythed down by Black at first touch.

62mins – Hughes booked for foul on Taouil

61mins – Templeton off, Driver on for Hearts.

56mins – A slip by Hateley lets Templeton run at Randolph, but the big goalie blocks at his front post.•

52mins – Hateley inswinging corner is clawed out from under bar by Kello.

50mins – McGowan shot blocked for a corner after being released by Templeton.

49mins – Motherwell have started second half looking brighter than end of first. A goal would change the game.

48mins – Black shoots well over from distance.

45mins – Teams back out for the second half, we came back away to Inverness and we came back from 3-0 here last season, #COMEONYEWELL

Half Time – Hearts 2 Motherwell 0. Not the away fare of recent travelling games, hearts looking the better team. Had chances though!

43mins – Daley hits post with cross after wriggling by 2 markers in the box.

38mins – Higdon booked for bumping in to Webster and kicking the ball back to Kello in anger.

35mins – Hearts were figuratively, not literally, in mouths earlier. Apologies.

34mins – Scott Robinson picks up loose ball and fires over from 25 yards.

33mins – Randolph smacks a clearance off Templeton, which bounces behind for goal kick. Literally Hearts in mouth moment.

Goal 2-0 Hearts. Stephen Elliot taps in after Templeton runs riot down the left hand side.

23mins – Templeton smacks a great effort just over after cutting in from left once again.

Goal 1-0 Hearts. Ian Black. Templeton cuts in and has shot blocked, ball falls to Black, who finds bottom corner from 18 yards. 16 mins.

13mins – Hearts using the width of the park better than Motherwell so far, but final ball lacking.

10mins – Elliot shot cleared from Well box after good work on left by McGowan.

6mins – Randolph beats away a deflected effort from Templeton, after he got in behind Hateley.

3mins – Daley shot deflected to Higdon, whose angled drive is smothered by Kello at second attempt.

1min – Late start on the tweets today, but with you right through Hearts v Motherwell! #COMEONYEWELL

[tab:Reaction]

Hearts manager Paulo Sergio:

“It is a great victory, Motherwell are a very good team and to play like this was excellent. I think it was a tough game but we were tactically perfect today, with a great attitude and we used the ball perfectly.

“We knew Motherwell would punish us for mistakes, so today we made no mistakes and we had no troubles. The players were very focused and I am very happy with them. It’s a victory for the players, they deserve this and I am so happy for them today.”

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“We’ve no divine right to turn up and win a game and remember Hearts are a good team.

“For all their problems off the park, they (Hearts) showed that out there today and the best side won. We had two or three lads who had their poorest game of the season but I can’t be over critical of them as we kept going to the end.”

“We lost two poor goals giving them a good start and we never really created enough at the other end to get back in the game.”

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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