Hearts took the spoils with a 3-1 win under the Fir Park floodlights. A spectacular goal from McFadden in added time cheered the departing fans but by then the game was lost.
It could have been a different story had either of two first half incidents gone our way. In 20 minutes Clay had a great chance and his shot from inside the box was deflected. The ball seemed goal bound until Hamilton reacted well with a fine one handed save to thwart the midfielder.
The half-time break had almost arrived when a catalogue of errors and a slice of bad luck cost us dear. Moult was on defensive duty when he conceded a needless foul in dangerous territory between the penalty area and the touchline. Samson missed his attempted punch clearance and the ball ended up at Lasley’s feet. The captain had time to clear the danger but his attempted pass was short and Hearts regained possession. Nicholson tried a hit and hope effort from long distance and the Samson was stranded when a cruel deflection off McManus helped the ball into the net at no more than walking pace. Suddenly the evenly matched encounter had the visitors ahead.
We had started with what now looks like a regular starting eleven but suffered the loss of Cadden mid-way though the opening period. Lucas replaced him but the drive and energy that has been an important element in our play was missing.
We took control for a long spell in the second half. We had the ball in the net but the assistant’s flag cut short the celebration. Crossed ball poured into the Hearts’ area but Hamilton had simple saves from the heads of Moult and Bowman.
Our inability to convert gave the visitors hope and they capitalised with a Paterson rocket in 67 minutes. Another fine shot, this time from Djoum and we were three down.
The consolation came in added time when McFadden rolled back the years to deliver a peach of a free kick into the postage stamp corner from 25 yards. Sadly there were few Motherwell fans left to see the strike.
Motherwell 1 Hearts 3
Attendance 4,666 (1,150)
Team: Samson, Tait, Hammell, Heneghan, McManus, Moult, Bowman (McFadden 70), Cadden (Lucas 25), Lasley (Ainsworth 700), Clay, McDonald