7.10pm

Today's result: Motherwell 0, Hearts 1.

A first half own goal by Stephen Craigan was enough to gift Hearts victory at Fir Park this afternoon, in a match that was completely ruined as a spectacle by the high wind, rutted pitch and utterly incompetent refereeing.

There was one change to the side which defeated Inverness in midweek, with Stephen Hughes returning in place of Darren Smith.

Motherwell fell behind 12 minutes into a diabolical first half when Craigan spectacularly sliced a Jonsson shot which was heading for the corner flag into his own net, although the goal was mired in controversy as the referee had allowed play to continue despite Clarkson being down with a head knock.  There also appeared to be a handball in the build up to the goal, but again the referee took no action.  The first 45 mins then petered out,  without Motherwell creating any sort of goalscoring opportunity.

There was little improvement after the break, although at least we forced the Hearts goalkeeper into making a couple of saves, most notably from a Ross McCormack free kick.  But I'm afraid that was about it as far as goalmouth action was concerned, with Hearts holding on to take all three points.

Our long ball tactic, which worked so well against ICT, today simply played straight into the hands of a physical, aggressive Hearts defence which dealt comfortably with everything that was thrown at them.  Although Hearts didn't really deserve the win, I don't think we can argue that we did enough in an attacking sense to have too many complaints.

At least Dundee Utd dropped two points at home to Falkirk, and with our next two games away from the dreaded Fir Park pitch we might actually see a return to some passing football.

Team (4-3-3): Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan (Jamie Murphy 84), Reynolds, Hammell, Hughes (Darren Smith 55), Lasley, Fitzpatrick, Clarkson (Lappin 30), Porter, McCormack.
Subs Not Used: Daniels, Brian McLean, Danny Murphy, Archdeacon.

Booked: McCormack, Craigan.

Attendance: 5,925.

Speaking after the game, Mark McGhee refused to blame the referee for his side's defeat:
"The referee can stop the game if he wants. He told me he didn't need to stop the game and that's fine.  I still think there was a handball by Nade when the ball got played forward to him but all of that said, on balance I think we deserved to get beaten.  It was a game that required a real physical effort and the conditions were as much of a challenge to us as Hearts were.  But regardless of how the goal came about, they just pipped us, not by much, but they still deserved it.  They were first to most second balls and just a little bit more stronger."

It's been an eventful couple of days for Stephen Craigan.  Yesterday he signed a new contract that will keep him at Fir Park until 2011, then today he celebrated it by scoring an own goal, being booked and eventually being substituted.  He's had better days.

On the contract situation, Mark McGhee is quoted on the Official Website as saying:
"Paul Quinn is only one of the guys we want to tie down; Stephen Craigan signed a new contract yesterday. We expect within a couple of days Keith Lasley and Steven McGarry to sign new contracts too

"It looks as if we are going to lose Ross (McCormack) but we don't have to lose anyone else. In the summer we have to add to it. I think Murphy and Archdeacon have the opportunity between now and the start of next season that they could take Ross' place if Ross leaves, as looks likely.

"That is two good young players signed in the long term and they could be here scoring goals for the next couple of years."

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