Hearts 3, Motherwell 1
| Match Date: Saturday, December 22 2001 |
|
| Competition: Scottish Premier League | |
| Attendance: 10,674 | |
| Motherwell Team (3-5-2): |
Woods, Forrest, Deloumeaux, Strong, Soloy (Corrigan 66), McFadden (Pearson
87), Leitch, Lasley, Hammell, Kelly, Elliott (Adams 87).
Subs not used: Brown, Martinez.
Motherwell scorer: Elliott (20).
Yellow Cards: Lasley, Hammell, McFadden.
Red Cards: Forrest.
HEARTS, YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND FOR FYFE
Hearts 3 Motherwell 1
NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON Motherwell suffered at the hands of a quite awful refereeing display. Despite leading at half-time Referee Fyfe played a major part in ensuring Motherwell didn't take anything from this match, though some poor defending did little to help.
Hearts began in a positive mood, Soloy having to clear a Maybury cross ahead of Wales. With Mark Brown surprisingly on the bench Stevie Woods had a rare start, and he was called upon to punch a dangerous cross from Flogel well away. Referee Fyfe's first poor decision quickly arrived when he decided a quite fair tackle by Hammel to win the ball from Maybury warranted a free kick for the Tynecastle men. Motherwell then went close when, following a foul by Maybury on Elliott, a drive from McFadden looked destined to hit the net until McKenna diverted the ball behind. Hearts broke forward from the corner and it took good covering from Leitch to stop Boyack on the run. A drive from 25 yards saw Niemi holding as Hammel looked to score.
Some slack defending from Motherwell almost led to a goal when, from a corner, Fuller rose unchallenged to head wide. At the other end a mistake by Mahe let in Elliott and he was close to setting Kelly on goal, Maybury nipping in to clear. Hearts again broke with speed though Woods was equal to the shot from Fuller. Play seesawed and it was the Fir Parkers who then went inches from scoring. Hammel and Elliott combined with the cross falling only inches beyond McFadden and out of play. Fuller for Hearts raced down the wing and his cross was headed behind by Wales with Strong beaten in the air. After Mahe had driven way over from 30 yards it was Motherwell who took the lead. A stray pass from Flogel in midfield allowed Elliott to gather and he raced into the box before giving Niemi no chance from 8 yards.
Hearts almost drew level from another controversial Fyfe decision. Soloy and Mahe clashed with the ball breaking Motherwell's way. It looked harmless but the Referee awarded Hearts a free kick. Cleared as far as Boyack he drove from 25 yards and Woods made a great save with Kelly completing for the corner. This was swung in and Pressley headed way wide. Another soft free kick went in favour of Hearts when Mahe was beaten by Soloy to the ball. Soloy was able to clear but an elbow from Fuller, which connected with Lasley, went unnoticed. More antics from Fuller gained Hearts a free kick when he went down without a touch as Forrest won the ball.
A minute or so later Fyfe booked Keith Lasley for alleged high feet, though there were more ridiculous decisions to come. Soon after Boyack brought McFadden crashing down but play continued, then a quite blatant dive from Fuller went without a blink of the eye from Referee Fyfe. It wasn't a penalty, so without doubt the striker dived, but not so in Fyfe's eyes. Motherwell had an opportunity to double their advantage when Maybury again fouled Elliott, still no card for persistence. McFadden curled the ball well but it hit the side netting. Another dive from Fuller again brought anger from the Motherwell fans but no action from Fyfe. The Fir Parkers pushed forward again and following a terrific run from McFadden it was Soloy who brought out a good save from Niemi.
Six minutes from the interval Fuller succeeded in getting Forrest booked when the two clashed on the halfway line. It was a debateable free kick to say the least, and most certainly a very soft booking. And given what happened just two minutes later all the more questionable. As Leitch cleared from inside his own box Fuller launched himself into the Motherwell captain making no attempt to win the ball. A red card should have been produced, but again Fyfe took the soft option and merely flashed a yellow card - by now Fuller should have been showered and changed long since. The home fans, and the tannoy announcer included, thought they had drawn level when Wales was well offside as he tapped home at the far post. Mahe then shot well over from 25 yards before second from the interval more diving by Fuller went unpunished.
Half-time Hearts 0 Motherwell 1
The homesters made an immediate change, bringing on Fulton for Simmons. Three minutes into the half Hearts should have been level when Pressley set up Wales and with only Woods to beat he shot well wide of the target. Another soft booking followed when Boyack made the most of the challenge from Hammel. It was a free kick but not a bookable offence. Worse was to follow when Fuller nodded in the equaliser. Referee Fyfe was now intent on booking any challenge by a Motherwell player, or so it seemed, McFadden next to see yellow for an innocuous trip on Gronlund.
A good clearance from Hammel then prevented Motherwell falling behind, his header away stopping Boyack. Motherwell weren't being seen much in an attacking mode at this point but Stuart Elliott made a good run to what seemed to be winning a corner off Maybury, not so though Fyfe. Then on the hour mark the game changed completely. There looked to be little in it as Forrest and, surprise surprise Fuller clashed. Referee Fyfe, seizing on the opportunity, immediately flashed the yellow and red cards with Forrest, his teammates and the travelling support incensed at the decision. Whether or not Forrest deserved to go is one thing, Fuller should have been well off the park long ago.
An error from Leitch then allowed Fuller to find Fulton but his shot went way wide of goal. A minute later Hearts took the lead. McKenna took advantage of the space created by Forrest's departure to head home. Then a superb block from Soloy stopped Boyack scoring a third. It was Soloy's last involvement, he soon left the field to be replaced by Corrigan as Manager Black re-shuffled the Motherwell defence. A kick on Elliott by Boyack carried only a free kick which Motherwell squandered. The Fir Park defence was very shaky and a free header presented to Pressley went without punishment. Motherwell wasted a good chance to draw level when Corrigan, with two forwards in space at the back post, chose to drive way over the bar from outside the box.
A Hearts break then saw Maybury drive well past the far post. Another opportunity for the visitors went a-begging when, after Pressley had fouled Kelly, Motherwell rushed the free kick which was wasted. A push on Gronlund by Corrigan gave Hearts a dangerous free kick near the corner flag but a foul on Strong ended the danger. Hearts then made a double change, Wales and Gronlund leaving to be replaced by Weir and Kirk.
The Fir Parkers went close seconds later when Elliott connected with McFadden's throw, the ball drifting inches over the bar. However, shortly afterwards Fuller showed the other side of his game to finish the match. Gaining possession on the halfway line he evaded a couple of challenges before rounding Woods to score. Ordinarily this would have been a terrific goal, had it been scored by someone who still deserved to be part of the game. Motherwell made a change with time running out, Adams replacing Elliott and McFadden making way for Pearson, though not long afterwards the game was over.
Full-time Hearts 3 Motherwell 1
Match Report by Ricky Mullen