Stephen Hughes made his first appearance and lasted the entire game. He looked comfortable on the ball, made a few nice passes and demonstrated that he has a powerful shot. He seemed to cope with our high tempo game and seems already to have justified whatever undisclosed fee was paid for his services.
Early action
Much of the game saw Motherwell playing the football while Hearts, solid at the back, relied on breaks from defence. The game flowed from end to end and both teams have to be commended for the how they laid on for the TV audience.
It was the visitors who carried the early threat and Clarkson was lucky not to have conceded a penalty when his clumsy barge cleared a threat in his own penalty area. Smith than had to produce a reaction save from Elliot's header.
We looked lively when Quinn laid on a peach of a pass for McGarry but a moment's hesitation let the chance escape. The defence paid a heavy price when
Clarkson had a chance to equalise just before the break but his left footed effort from the right side of the box was off target.
The tempo of the game went into overdrive in the second half as we pressed for the leveller. An early corner saw the ball at the feet of McCormack only two yards out but quick defending blocked him before he could swing his boot to score.
Porter replaced Lasley with thirty five minutes remaining but clear chances remained few and far between. McCormack fired a free kick low through a crowded box and with the keeper beaten the ball passed on the wrong side of the post. Porter coild have done better with a header and then was unlucky when a poke to the corner forced Banks to a finger tip save.
Grabben replaced O'Donnell as we entered added time and he was barely on the pitch when we lost the second to a lob from Velicka.
For the second time this season the home crowd left