HEARTS WINNING IN THE RAIN...
Michael Smith was mobbed by his delighted team-mates after opening the scoring for Hearts in the Betfred Cup victory over Motherwell
IN A LANARKSHIRE deluge, even arch-critic Michael Stewart couldn’t have found fault with the way Hearts slipped and slithered their way into the quarter-finals of the Betfred Cup.
After being booed from the pitch after a drab 0-0 draw with Ross County last Saturday, this was an important win for Craig Levein and his side, embarrassment at their weekend performance the motivation for a much improved display.
The same can’t be said of a Motherwell team targeted by their own Fir Park boo boys after a third straight game without victory.
Stephen Robinson admitted his side got all they deserved as Northern Ireland international Conor Washington claimed his first Hearts goal from the penalty spot in the final seconds of the first half. Yet the foundations of victory were laid minutes earlier by an unsung hero.
In Motherwell’s last eight home League Cup games, they had scored 26 goals and conceded none. That changed in 40 minutes with a goal of outstanding technique from Hearts right-back Michael Smith.
Controlling a crossfield ball on the right side, the full-back cut in past Richard Tait then smashed a peach of a 20-yard shot with his left foot into the bottom corner. Smith has now scored three goals for Hearts. All three have come in the Betfred Cup.
After the Hearts breakthrough, the heavens opened over Fir Park in biblical fashion. And Motherwell received proof that it never rains but it pours when Hearts doubled their lead from their second penalty of the first half.
The home side had survived the first, awarded by referee Bobby Madden after eight minutes, when Washington flicked the ball on to the outstretched arm of defender Charles Dunne.
Under new IFAB regulations, the referee was right to give the award, but it’s a hard rule to warm to. Motherwell breathed again when Sean Clare took the spot-kick and smacked the ball against the base of the post.
When lightning struck twice — almost literally — in the midst of a torrential August rain storm they would be less fortunate. Chasing a long ball down the right channel from Smith, Jake Mulraney got a touch on the ball before he was taken out by Motherwell keeper Mark Gillespie.
Once again, referee Madden called it right, despite the howling derision of the home support. Gillespie’s lack of protest told its own story.
This time Hearts made no mistake, removing Clare from the front line to allow Northern Ireland international Washington to sweep his first Hearts goal into the net from 12 yards.
As Scotland manager, Levein never had the luxury of buying his way out of trouble. As half-time arrived, an increasingly powerful Hearts side found themselves two goals to the good. Things were already looking up.
The draw with Ross County followed an opening-day league defeat to Aberdeen. Yet nothing eases the pressure on a football manager like a new signing. And in the last week or so Hearts have made a few.
French midfielder Loic Damour earned a first-half booking for a cynical tug on Sherwin Seedorf but looks the part. The jury is out on Manchester United goalkeeper and debutant loanee Joel Pereira after a nervous introduction to life in Scottish football.
Motherwell’s best chance of the first half came in 21 minutes when James Scott’s strong running on the left flank finished in a perfect cut back for Jermaine Hylton. Despite the winger failing to catch it well, Pereira nervously spilled a tame shot at the feet of Seedorf, earning a reprieve when an old-fashioned scramble resulted in Hearts kid Aaron Hickey hooking the ball to safety.
Motherwell’s attacking efforts were sporadic, Hearts the stronger side. The half-time lead in no way flattered them. But for a brave block tackle from Dunne the Edinburgh side might had another one in 26 minutes after clinical breakaway football by Craig Halkett and Washington ended in an enticing ball across goal for Jamie Walker.
The winger then made way for Steven MacLean. Two changes for Motherwell at half-time saw Devante Cole and striker Chris Long replace Hylton and Scott. The home team were heading out of the Betfred Cup. They had 45 minutes to retrieve the situation.
Long did his best to give them a lifeline. When the home team most needed energy and dynamism, the Englishman provided it.
His dogged tracking back and determination triggered a fight-back when he robbed a ponderous Damour of possession in the Hearts half.
The ball broke wide to Liam Polworth, the midfielder threading a cutting pass through the Hearts backline for former Everton kid Long to slam the ball low into the net. Motherwell were back in the game. From a position of dominance Hearts looked less sure of themselves.
It needed a late Pereira save to prevent Washington scoring at both ends when the ball spun off his knee from a Motherwell corner. Yet Hearts got what they deserved in the end.
And the same might be said of a home team of which much is expected this season.
MOTHERWELL (4-3-3): Gillespie 4; Grimshaw 5, Gallagher 6, Dunne 6, Tait 5; Polworth 6, Campbell 5 (Ilic 78), Donnelly 5; Seedorf 4, Scott 4 (Long 45), Hylton 5 (Cole 45). Subs not used: Carson, Maguire, Livingstone, Semple. Booked: Tait, Seedorf. HEARTS (4-3-3): Pereira 6; M Smith 8, Halkett 7, Berra 7, Hickey 7; Clare 6 (Bozanic 88), Damour 6, Irving 6; Walker 4 (MacLean 38), Mulraney 6 (White 84), Washington 7. Subs not used: Whelan, Doyle, Ikpeazu, Dikamona. Booked: Damour, Smith. Man of the match: Michael Smith. Referee: Bobby Madden. Attendance: 5,597.