Saturday's result: Hearts 3, Motherwell 2.

The curtain rises on another season,  and what better way to start than with a train day out in Edinburgh?  It was the 10.04 from Motherwell for Graeme and I as we headed though to soak up some of the atmosphere of the festival (and more importantly, hit some of the capital's finest hostelries) before making our way to Tynecastle.

The game itself was an entertaining encounter, but just like so often last season we were left to pay the price for slack defending.  Hearts went ahead on 24 mins when Stewart ran unchallenged into the box before dispatching low past Smith, but we were level shortly afterwards when Clarkson tapped home from close range following excellent build-up play from Hughes.  Alas, we weren't on level terms for long, with Ksanavicius squeezing the ball home after both Reynolds and Craigan had failed to deal with what looked like a harmless punt upfield.

Motherwell struggled to make any inroads during the second half, and it was somewhat against the run of play when Clarkson equalised for a second time with a deflected effort on 81 mins.  However, the players switched off and we went behind again almost instantly when Mikoliunas fired beyond Smith from a tight angle to seal all three points.

There's no doubt we could have taken something from Saturday's game, as both goals one and two in particular were very preventable.  Defensively we were never really at the races, with the centre halves all over the place at times, while Paul Quinn looks to have had his good season and his now back to his previous form.  And as for Bob Malcolm, he was so far off the pace it simply wasn't true. 

Ah well, three points against Aberdeen on Saturday will get our season up-and-running just nicely.

Team (4-4-2): Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Lasley (O'Brien 79), Hughes, Malcolm (Fitzpatrick 54), McGarry (Smith 75), Porter, Clarkson. 
Subs not used: Neilson, Murphy, Connolly, Slane.

Motherwell scorer: Clarkson (33, 81).

Booked: Malcolm, Lasley.

Mark McGhee's post-match comments were as follows:
"Everyone knows I have been looking for an extra defender to put pressure on these boys.  That has not happened and we also lost Brian McLean to a serious injury. I am still trying but I also know the four lads out there can do better than they did for the first two goals.  It was the right result in terms of the defending we showed in the first two goals.  I was satisfied with the performance - it was the same Motherwell team from last year - great creative play, chances, two goals away from home but the defending has to be better."

Motherwell have completed the signing of midfielder Jim O'Brien from Celtic on a permanent basis.  It is believed we paid a fee of £50,000 for the 20-year-old, who has agreed a two-year deal.  His reaction?
"I am just delighted to be here  The important thing for me just now is to play regular first-team football.  Obviously working under a manager like Mark McGhee is a big pull and all the guys have made me feel really welcome.  First-team football is what it is all about for me now. I've signed for two years and I want to establish myself in the team and make a name for myself and repay the club for having faith in me.  The pull of UEFA Cup football has been a big one and that is another level I am keen to experience."

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen has arrived on loan from Blackburn Rovers for six months.  The 21-year-old is a Faroe Islands Under-21 internationalist.