Hearts 2-0 Motherwell: Hosts see off Motherwell to go high of the Scottish Premiership

Hearts moved to the highest of the Scottish Premiership with a 2-0 win after a Liam Boyce penalty and Stephen Kingsley free-kick ended Motherwell’s five-match unbeaten run.

The Tynecastle aspect struck twice within the first half, with Boyce having a second spot-kick saved after the break, and have been nicely price their 2-0 victory, regardless of having to resist some late stress from the guests.

Victory stored the hosts unbeaten within the league and lifted them above Rangers and Hibernian, who meet at Ibrox on Sunday.

John Souttar was not deemed match sufficient to return from damage, so Hearts kicked off with the identical aspect that began the 3-0 win over Livingston final weekend.

Motherwell made one change to the crew that defeated Ross County of their earlier outing, with Bevis Mugabi changing Ricki Lamie in defence.

Hearts acquired off to the right begin once they took the lead after simply 5 minutes.

Boyce chased down a through-ball from Beni Baningime and acquired there simply earlier than goalkeeper Liam Kelly, who was deemed to have tripped the Northern Irish ahead by referee David Munro.

Motherwell protested the penalty award, however Boyce stored his composure to attain his spot-kick.

Buoyed by their early benefit, the hosts began to take command of the sport they usually struck once more within the twenty second minute when Kingsley fired in an excellent free-kick from simply exterior the world after Baningime had been fouled.

Motherwell tried to discover a response and Kaiyne Woolery noticed a low shot from the sting of the field deflected vast within the thirty first minute. The ensuing nook, taken by Mark O’Hara, was headed over by Juhani Ojala.

Hearts went near a 3rd within the thirty seventh minute when Ben Woodburn had a robust strike from exterior the world pushed over by Kelly.

Properly nearly pulled one again in first-half stoppage time when Tony Watt noticed a dipping half-volley from 25 yards tipped over by Craig Gordon. The goalkeeper then needed to act well to cease Watt heading in from the following nook.

Cammy Devlin threatened for the house aspect early within the second half with a low angled shot from contained in the field that ran agonisingly vast of the far submit.

Hearts suffered a blow within the 54th minute when defender Craig Halkett limped off and was changed with Andy Halliday.

A minute later, Robbie Neilson’s crew had an opportunity to kill the sport when Callum Slattery was deemed to have hauled Devlin down within the field, however Kelly made a wonderful block from Boyce’s penalty.

Nearly instantly Motherwell had a chance to cut back their arrears when Woolery acquired in behind the house defence, however Gordon acquired right down to make a wonderful save.

Baningime then had a shot from the sting of the field tipped behind by Kelly earlier than Halliday shot vast.

Motherwell loved a interval of stress within the closing phases however have been unable to discover a approach by means of a well-organised residence defence.

What the managers stated

Hearts supervisor Robbie Neilson: “We have had a number of challenges this season. The primary one was, ‘May we enhance the away document?’ I believe within the final 15-20 years, Hearts have received greater than 50 per cent of their away video games as soon as, in order that’s the very first thing for us to try to rectify. And the second we spoke about at first of the season is, ‘Can we go to Glasgow and win?’

“That is the subsequent problem for us. It’ll be powerful however we go, it doesn’t matter what occurs (between Rangers and Hibs on Sunday), to Ibrox near them. We have got a number of younger guys within the crew which can be enhancing on a regular basis, so it is one other check for them to go there. It is going to be powerful, however we have now a perception we will go there and carry out.

“That’s the final goal for each crew as a result of that tells you the place you might be. Are you able to go to Glasgow and win? It’s a totally different beast once you undergo to Glasgow, so we must be prepared for that.

“Now we have gamers who can deal with the ball and gamers that may work defensively so we’ll go there and we’ll give it a shot.”

Motherwell supervisor Graham Alexander: “I am dissatisfied as a result of I felt we deserved extra from the sport. I believed we created some nice possibilities, particularly within the second half.

“The overall efficiency was a large enchancment on final week after we received, however the massive moments did not go for us at this time.”

Reflecting on the early penalty Hearts scored from, Alexander stated: “I believe there is perhaps a contact, however there is just one factor the lad (Boyce) is in search of. He is an skilled participant and we have now to be taught from that.”