Motherwell vs Hearts. Scottish Premiership.
Fir ParkAttendance5,884.
Report as Lawrence Shankland's double helps Hearts to 2-1 win over Motherwell; Steven Naismith's side move up to fourth in Premiership, with hosts in ninth; Blair Spittal's 78th-minute penalty halved the deficit but Motherwell now winless in nine
Saturday 11 November 2023 21:22, UK
Lawrence Shankland's double helped Hearts to a 2-1 victory away to Motherwell, whose winless streak now stands at nine games.
The striker netted in each half to send Steven Naismith's men into fourth place in the Premiership, just two points off third.
Blair Spittal converted a 78th-minute penalty to reduce the deficit but Hearts held on to record a precious away victory.
Motherwell made one change from the midweek draw with St Johnstone, with Theo Bair in for Brodie Spencer.
Hearts, in turn, made three changes after losing the Viaplay Cup semi-final to Rangers. In came Liam Boyce, Alan Forrest and Alex Lowry, with Toby Sibbick, Jorge Grant and Kenneth Vargas making way.
It was the visitors who had the first chance with Lowry curling an effort wide, before Bair headed off target from Spittal's corner at the other end.
Hearts should have moved in front after 16 minutes. Calum Butcher was dispossessed in defence by Shankland, with Lowry then picking out Boyce. The Northern Irishman, though, took too long before eventually sliding his shot wide.
The visitors, however, did take the lead after 27 minutes. Lowry's corner was headed goalwards by Frankie Kent for Shankland to help over the line from close range.
Hearts appealed for a penalty just minutes later when Boyce's run into the box was obstructed by Dan Casey. Referee David Munro was asked by VAR to take a look at the screen but felt it did not merit a spot kick, much to Motherwell's relief.
The visitors began the second half still on top and Stephen Kingsley saw a near-post effort from a corner blocked before Shankland volleyed the next delivery well off target.
The striker then appealed for a penalty after a collision with Callum Slattery but VAR had a look and decided not to call the referee over for a second opinion, with the game resuming with a Motherwell free-kick.
Hearts did finally manage to get their second goal after 72 minutes and again it was Shankland who scored it.
Beni Baningime threaded a terrific pass through that Lowry dummied, allowing it to run through to Shankland, who took the ball around goalkeeper Liam Kelly before finishing well.
Motherwell were handed a lifeline five minutes later when Alex Cochrane was adjudged to have handled in the box and Spittal stroked home the penalty.
The home side rallied after that but despite late pressure never looked like finding an equaliser.
Hearts manager Steven Naismith: "It was a big win because of our previous results.
"It's important you stop that and get the points you need as quickly as possible. I thought we did that with what was a really good performance overall.
"It should have been a bigger margin because we had a couple more chances and we should have had a penalty or two. But the positive is that when Motherwell scored, we defended really well in the dying moments.
"That had been questioned with us losing some quick goals back to back in games. There's a demand and an expectation.
"That's not just one week and then it's off. It's there every week. It's pleasing the way we performed got us that.
"A big question of this squad has been their away form which has been really poor over the years. That's now four away games this season that we've won. It's something that takes time.
"There are some moments you want to be better but you hope over time they get eradicated and the good stuff shines through. But if we don't keep winning, the pressure comes.
"In this job you're always under pressure. Even after this win, you'll be under pressure from somebody."
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "What we have to do over the international break is work hard.
"I never shied away from that even when we were winning games. You have to put the hours in and that's what we're going to do again.
"That's the only way we're going to get out of this poor run and we can't shirk it or hide from it. That's the challenge that has been laid down to the players.
"People are asking questions about the run we've been on and I get that and accept it. But I believe we have the people and the formula to arrest this form we're in."
Motherwell are away to Celtic in their next Scottish Premiership match on November 25 while Hearts host St Johnstone.
Both games kick-off at 3pm.
