Motherwell travel Tynecastle on Saturday for the first visit to Hearts in over a year. We enjoy a five point advantage over the maroon team and the aim will be to make it eight by close of play.
Hearts have not had their troubles to seek this season. After a homeless start and an early league Cup exit they replaced Cathro with Levein. The revival stuttered and we now face a team without a win in their last six games. The last act of the LLLDDD run produced the unedifying sight of both the manager and assistant behaving like naughty schoolboys as their 10 man team drew with Hamilton. They were fortunate not to have their removal from the dugout extended.
A crowded pitch at warm-up
They have a costly bright new main stand but there is no shine on the park. Already talk revolves around necessary changes to personnel in the upcoming January window. There is no doubt that the Gorgie outfit has the potential to improve but we’ll do our best to delay that upturn.
Lafferty and Gonçalves lead the opposition’s goal scorer table but only Partick Thistle have fewer goals to their credit. If Hartley, Kipré and pals are on their game we may escape with a clean sheet.
Despite the fine win at Pittodrie and the laudable point against Celtic the form table shows Motherwell with four losses in the last six outings. However, few teams will have to face the gruelling schedule Robinsons men had to endure. The players have had a few days to refresh and return eager to resume the winning form that propelled them into the top half of the table.
The manager spoke earlier this week and reported that a full squad was available for selection. We can expect a familiar attacking style to be on show under the shadow of the big new stand and a happy trip back along the M8 after a 2-0 win.