Match date : Saturday 4th October 1997 Compettiion : Premier League Attendance : 8,886
Motherwell scorer : Tommy Coyne (44,pen).
NO CASE FOR THE DEFENCE AS 'WELL COLLAPSE
Motherwell 1 Heart of Midlothian 4SOME Shocking defending by out-of-sorts Motherwell cost them dear as Hearts ran out winners at a blustery Fir Park. Despite only having four shots on target, the Edinburgh team made each one count to condemn Motherwell to another home defeat, now without a Fir Park victory in the league since April, and only one since January.
The Fir Park side began brightly, Coyne, Falconer and Weir combining to set Shivute up on the wing, but he rather unfortunately ran the ball out attempting to bypass two Hearts defenders. Martin then sent Denham through, and his pass to Shivute was met with a timely interception by Salvitori as the Namibian Internationalist was ready to pounce. From the resultant corner-kick, Falconer was unfairly punished as Rousett flapped at the ball whilst Falconer was attempting to get a nod onto it. Hearts received a piece of good fortune when McCann, who appeared to run the ball out of play, was allowed to proceed down by the corner flag. Although Brian Martin cleared when McCann received the ball back from Cameron, Pointon eventually picked up the ball to send Frenchman Adam clear on the wing. With Martin carrying an injury, Adam turned the big man to lay off for Cameron, and he slotted the ball into the net beyond Woods despite their being three Motherwell defenders within feet of him. Motherwell failed to notice the danger the Hearts forwards were providing, especially on the break, and it didn't take the Edinburgh side long to double their advantage. Shivute's low cross was intercepted by Weir, and as Denham failed to cut-out the pass to Hamilton, the Hearts player sent Adam clean through although it has to be said the Frenchman did look suspiciously off-side as he collected the ball. Unchallenged, he ran onto the 18-yard-line and chipped beyond Woods. Motherwell tried to get something back, Shivute through to Coyle, but Ritchie again made a timely stop, and Coyne's shot from a Shivute through ball failed to trouble Roussett. But Motherwell then received a massive blow when inspirational Captain Brian Martin limped off injured, to be replaced by Stevie Craigan. This unsettled the shaky Home defence still further, and Hearts pounced on the uncertainty to go three-up in just 20 minutes. Tommy Coyne lost possession to former Celtic team-mate Fulton, whose cross ball to McManus was played into the path of Weir. Salvatori nodded the cross into the path ofMcCann who scored with ease despite the presence of Eddie May who failed to cut out the ball as it was played in front of the Motherwell defender. The home side refused to give up, and a flowing passing movement involving McMillan, Valakari and Weir saw Craigan's long ball collected by Coyne. The ball ran loose but Weir collected, and his cross almost sneaked into the net, Roussett just managing to touch over for a corner, which came to nothing as the wind caught Weir's cross. Motherwell were beginning to see more of the ball as Hearts appeared content with their lot, and Coyle almost set Shivute clear but Weir, having a good match, cut out the danger. Eddie May then saw a first-time effort from 25 yards sail just beyond the far post as the home support began to see some hope emerge from the tatters of the three-goal deficit. Denham's well-timed tackle then prevented McCann adding to Hearts lead as Hearts still carried a threat. Some frantic action in the Away defence saw both Coyle and Coyne have efforts blocked, and from Salvitori's clearance, Adam set up Cameron whose shot just sneaked by the far post. Motherwell pushed forward again, and should have had a penalty when Weir firstly handled Shivute's cross inside the box then pushed the Namibian over as he ran towards the by-line. However, with a minute to go to the interval, Motherwell got on the scoresheet. At last Referee McCluskey got his act together and awarded Motherwell a deserved penalty when Weir again fouled Shivute as the African Ace sped past the defender. No card was produced, strangely enough, but Coyne made no mistake from the spot to give the Home side a glimmer of hope.
Half-Time Motherwell 1 Heart of Midlothian 3The Fir Parkers made a determined effort at the beginning of the second-half to at least reduce the deficit still further, and were a shade unfortunate not to be on level terms within minutes. Another hand-ball claim was waved away by Referee McCluskey as Pointon clearly palmed Falconer's header. Falconer passed back to Craigan, and via Shivute fed Coyne, whose goal-bound effort was deflected for a corner. Weir swept the ball in, Shivute headed down, and Coyne connected only to see Roussett, regularly a thorn in Motherwell's side, save by pushing the ball away. Just two minutes into the second half would have been a perfect time to score, and 2-3 could have made a huge difference to the match. Coyle then bent a cross-cum-shot towards the far post but 6 foot 4 Roussett made easy work of it. Mickey Weir then showed tremendous skill to flick the ball by Pointon and send Coyne clear on the wing. His cross was headed across the penalty spot in the direction of Shivute, but Weir cleared to Salvatori. The Italian played to McCann, who cut inside Valakari and Weir but fell rather easily on the edge of the box. Much to Weirs' amazement, the free-kick was given. Salvatori then spent over a minute complaining about the position of the wall before firing a shot over the cross-bar. Motherwell still pushed forward, Coynes' lay-off was swept in by McMillan but Rousett clutched as Falconer lurked menancingly. Hearts were not to be seen as an attacking force at this point, but from a breakaway they sealed the match with a fourth goal. It did have a hint of controversy about it. From good Motherwell play, Falconer sent a pass to Valakari which took a high bounce. As the Finn tried to collect, Cameron made a very high challenge with his foot to win the ball but was allowed to proceed up the park. As he approched the box unopposed, he slipped the ball wide to Hamilton in acres of space, and he side-stepped Woods before hammering the ball into the net. Fulton was then awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position after Shivute won the ball from him, and from the kick Hamilton headed just past using Craigan as extra height. Motherwell could have reduced the lee-way near the end with two Willie Falconer efforts. Firstly, he met Weir's cross only to head straight at Roussett, then the tall Frenchman was well positioned as Falconer showed good skill to chest down a difficult ball from Denham and volley in on the drop. The final chance fell to the home side, McMillan's cross was crucially cut out by Locke, and from the corner Valakari's shot went wide.
FULL TIME Motherwell 1 Heart of Midlothian 4