A fantastic goal from Motherwell's Ross Forbes secured a 1-0 win over Hearts at Fir Park.
Motherwell move up to fourth with win
A spectacular strike from Motherwell's Ross Forbes was enough to secure a 1-0 victory over Hearts at Fir Park.
The midfielder rifled a 55th-minute volley into the net to claim his ninth goal of the season and send Well up to fourth place in the table.
Hearts' woes continued when they were reduced to 10 men after Eggert Jonsson was sent-off but they finished strongly, being denied late on by two great tackles from John Hutchinson.
Jonsson had stepped in for the injured Michael Stewart, who scored the winning goal against Celtic in midweek, as Hearts fell well short of their Co-operative Insurance Cup performance.
Forbes returned along with John Sutton following Motherwell's 3-0 cup defeat by St Mirren with Jamie Murphy dropped to the bench and club captain Stephen Craigan out altogether.
Motherwell almost lost goalkeeper John Ruddy after he suffered a groin injury in the warm-up but he was able to recover and did not have to make a save for 70 minutes.
Penalty claim
The hosts may have had an even more comfortable afternoon if they had been awarded a 13th-minute penalty.
Ismael Bouzid brought down Jim O'Brien as he ran on to Sutton's knockdown, but referee David Somers decided the Hearts won the ball.
Janos Balogh looked uncertain when dealing with corners and he had to tip over Hutchinson's header after Sutton had headed O'Brien's delivery back across goal.
Lukas Jutkiewicz shot wide from 25 yards after good link-up play by Sutton as Motherwell continued to have the edge, but they were thankful for the pace of Yassin Moutaouakil as he prevented Andrew Driver capitalising on a Hearts break.
Motherwell then missed two great chances around the half-hour mark.
Giles Coke headed O'Brien's free-kick wide from inside the six-yard box and Forbes blazed over from 14 yards after Balogh had been penalised for picking up a Jose Goncalves back-pass.
O'Brien came close to a spectacular opener three minutes into the second half when his powerful first-time volley from 25 yards brushed the side-netting.
Coke was inches away from latching on to Jutkiewicz's clever through ball and Sutton claimed he had been pulled down by Bouzid inside the box, but the hosts took the lead moments later.
Goal
Moutaouakil's deep cross evaded the Hearts back four and Forbes caught it full on the volley to fire into the far corner despite Balogh getting a touch.
The visitors' troubles intensified when striker Christian Nade was stretchered off after a challenge by Forbes, with Gary Glen taking his place.
Ruddy made his first save when he caught Ian Black's long-range effort but defence turned to attack as the keeper immediately set O'Brien clear with a huge kick.
Jonsson pulled O'Brien back just outside the box to earn himself a red card, although Forbes could only hit the free-kick into the wall.
Hearts put on more pressure with 10 men than they had with 11 though and Glen had a great chance to level late in the game.
Moutaouakil looked to have stopped Driver reaching the byline but the Hearts winger got up quickly to feed Glen, whose shot was diverted just past the post by Hutchinson's last-ditch block.
Ruben Palazuelos then headed over after Black had shot following the corner and Motherwell almost gifted Glen another chance after Ruddy's short goal kick.
Well sub Keith Lasley forced a save from Balogh before Hutchinson saved the home side again with a sliding tackle on Hearts sub Arvydas Novikovas after Steven Saunders had gifted possession to Driver.
The hosts were then not troubled during seven minutes of injury-time until Ruddy saved from Novikovas at the death.
