Match Date : Saturday 22nd March 1997 Competition : Premier League Attendance : 6,245
UNLUCKY MOTHERWELL BLANKED OUT BY ROUSSETT
Motherwell 0 Hearts 1MOTHERWELL slipped closer to danger as they were denied time and again by some outstanding goalkeeping from Gilles Rousett. The home side were boosted by a new signing, Kevin Christie making his debut after a move from East Fife, and he settled in quickly before having to leave the field on 20 minutes suffering from concussion.
Hearts went on the attack virtually from kick-off, Pointon's ball up to Cameron was intercepted by Van Der Gaag who shielded the ball by for a goal-kick. The Fir Parkers then took up the initiative, and from a pass by Billy Davies, Christie sent in a great ball which Roussett just managed to cut out as Hendry seemed certain to score. Motherwell went even closer moments later as they searched for the opener. Fulton's poor header allowed Coyle to break. His cross in from the wide left saw Falconer in acres of space, but his header skimmed the top of the cross-bar when in truth he really should have opened the scoring. The home side were left to rue that miss after 12 minutes when Hearts did open things up. Howie's kick-out was headed back by Salvatori, who upon receipt of the ball returned it to McCann. Valikari intercepted, and was immediately fouled by Salvatori but play was amazingly waved on. The Italian passed out wide to Pointon, on to McCann, and after beating Van der Gaag to the edge of the D he managed to poke the ball rather fortuitously to Paillie unmarked 18 yards out. After steadying himself, he shot high into the top left hand corner to give his side an undeserved lead. However, that lead could have been doubled soon after, Pointon's low cross just evading Cameron and slipping by for a goal-kick. Motherwell regained the initiative after this, and from Howie's kick-o9ut, Falconer headed on to Hendry. He laid the ball off to Colye,who beat Weir and was one-on-one with Roussett. Again, the French Keeper denied Motherwell with a great block, and as if to rub it in, the ball rebounded off Coyle, but narrowly past the post. Hearts broke up the park, but Paillie wasted an excellant opportunity when unmarked once again by blasting high over when in good position. Motherwell were pressing hard for an eqaliser, and from Davies' corner, Coyle crossed the clearance back in, the ball broke to Van Der Gaag who rushed his shot and blasted over. A bad foul by Weir on Falconer was ignored as the ball broke to Philliben. His high ball was kept in well by Coyle, who cut it back for Ross. The young full-back broke into the box, nipped it off to Valikari, and his nick found Hendry clear, but Roussett did well to block once again. The ball ran off to Philliben wide right, but his cross was cleared. Salvitori was then tackled well by Falconer, who, following a 1-2 with Davies, played a great ball wide to Ross. Coyle then took over, but a great tackle by McPherson cleared the danger. The last chance of a first-half dominated by Motherwell fell to the home side, but Ross, clear at the back post, took one touch too many and this allowed Roussett to block for a corner which was cleared.
Half-Time Motherwell 0 Hearts 1Motherwell upped their efforts in a frantic attempt to level the match. The first chance of the second-half fell to the home team, Falconer laid the ball off to Coyle, the ball was played back into Coyle who shot goal-wards but was ruled off-side. Hard-working Finnish mid-fielder Valikari then set up Falconer, but his turn-n-shot was just wide, though he would have been better to lay the ball off to the on-rushing Hendry. Hearts then gained a rare opportunity to put the match beyond Motherwell when Cameron ran clear, but his shot was parried by Howie, with Martin completing the clearance calmly. This prompted Motherwell further, Philliben cleared to Coyle, who switched a great ball to Coyne wide right. The Irish Internationalist sent a terrific low cross along the edge of the six-yard box, but there were no takers. However, Coyle managed to keep the ball in play, and his cross was nodded out for a corner. Hearts were becoming restricted to break-aways, and they almost scored from Locke's low drive after good work by Paillie. From Howie's goal-kick, McPherson missed his header allowing Falconer to send in a dipping drive which only just cleared the cross-bar. As Motherwell pushed forward they left some gaps at the back, and Paillie should have punished this following good work involving Pointon and McCann, but he shot wildly over when clear at the back post. Normally dependable Mitchell Van Der Gaag then wasted an excellant chance by heading a Philliben cross wide of goal when it seemed easier to score. With time running out, the last chance fell to Motherwell. Ross, after a good run, passed to Coyle. On to Coyne, who sent in a great cross which Billy Davies met first-time on the volley. Unfortunately for Davies, the ball flew straight at Roussett and the chance was gone.
The defeat, coupled with results elsewhere, leaves Mothewell in the play-off position with just 5 matches to go.
FINAL SCORE MOTHERWELL 0 HEARTS 1