Just when you thought things could not get worse - we get horsed by the Jambos without putting up much of a fight. No Goram, Leitch, McMillan, no 'Well goals for the third game in a row and not a lot of hope on show at the moment.
We got off to the worst start possible when Ouiefio was sent off after eight minutes for a 'last man' foul but Stevie Woods saved the resultant penalty. The writing was on the wall though and five minutes later Durie scored his first goal for Hearts with a six yard header.
The game was lost at that stage and the Jambos started to make several goal scoring chances.
Kirk got a tap in before half time and Billy Davies could only plan to hold the deficit at two. But in fifty seven minutes Durie got another - a back post header after a flick on from a Naismith corner.
McCulloch had a good claim for a penalty turned down, but its doubtful if that would have turned the game. They could have scored more but thankfully the score line did not turn into a humiliating defeat.
Where do we go from here? It looks like McKinlay will pursue his career elsewhere (according to reports in today's papers) - and Ange Ouiefio will miss the next game through suspension. However we have a couple of weeks off and the turning point of the season may have arrived. It’s always darkest just before the dawn!
Team: Woods, Oueifio, Kemble, Strong, Hammell, Harvey(Corrigan14), Adams(Townsley61), Brannan, Elliott, Spencer, McCulloch (Goodman77) Subs unused Connolly, Nicholas
Hearts 3 Motherwell 0
Attendance 10,460
1 October 2000