Hearts Cup Memory

The demands of television meant the game was put back from proper third round day to the Sunday. That didn't deter a large crowd, including several thousand from Edinburgh, packing Fir Park on a blustery night.

We had turned round our season under the guidance of Billy Davies with arrivals like Goram, Brannan and Spencer strengthening our line up.

Hearts were not enjoying the same success as the previous season but they were still Scottish Cup holders and deserved respect. However they would be torn apart by a simply magnificent display of football by the men in claret and amber.

The scoring was opened when McMillan stepped over a corner and Brannan arrived like a train to rattle it into the bottom corner. Despite our dominance we were only a goal up at the break and things were looking grim when Jim Hamilton headed home an equaliser. We were made of stern stuff though and a magnificent run by right back Doesburg set up Coyle to restore our league. Tony Thomas, making a rare appearance in an injury blighted Motherwell career, slotted home the third and last fifteen minutes were absolutely glorious. We walked through the Hearts defence at will and although we failed to increase the score the players left the field to huge cheers.

The following week we did a 'double' as we defeated Hearts 2-0 at Tynecastle. In the league we went on to secure a respectable position but the cup would (as usual!) end in disappointment. We won against Stirling Albion in the next round but despite being given a home tie against St Johnstone in the quarter finals we came out flat and lost 2-0.