Nowadays the biggest deterrent for followers of the Mighty 'Well is the outrageous cost of a ticket for the Roseburn Stand. £24 for a Hearts v Motherwell league fixture that will be available on live TV does nothing to encourage travelling supporters to make the journey. Not that the prices at Fir Park are much better - we'll charge Hearts fans £22 for the next meeting between the teams (also on $ky at lunchtime on 24 November).
It looks like both clubs ignored the chance to deliver a great atmosphere for the TV audience by slashing prices. The time for fans who pay at the gate, rather the stay at home sympathisers, to get some reward from the millions paid in by the satellite companies is long overdue. It's almost certain that there will be a much reduced band wearing claret and amber in Gorgie next Sunday.
Those who do make the journey east will be hopeful of a reward. Motherwell have lost only one game at Tynecastle in the last two seasons. The time when Hearts were seen as an almost invincible bogey team are long gone.
Our best season against Hearts in recent years came in 2004/5 when we took ten points from a possible twelve in league matches and topped it off with the memorable 3-2 win at Easter Road in a League Cup semi-final triumph. The Jam Tarts really did belong on our mantelpiece!
Remember the tifo at Tynie?