Motherwell 1-0 Hearts: Chris Long fires hosts up to third
- Published
Highlights: Motherwell 1-0 Heart of Midlothian
Motherwell's third successive win moved them into the Scottish Premiership top three as troubled Hearts fell to a third defeat in four games.
The Tynecastle club, who are only kept off bottom spot by goal difference, appointed Daniel Stendel as manager an hour after Chris Long's smart first-half finish secured a fourth straight home victory for Motherwell.
Jake Mulraney was dismissed for the visitors in stoppage time as caretaker boss Austin MacPhee signed off with a fourth defeat from six games in charge.
Defeat could have been heavier but an Allan Campbell goal in the closing stages was incorrectly ruled offside.
No end in sight to Hearts' ills
Despite a bug ripping through Motherwell's dressing room this week and affecting a handful of players, their powers of recovery meant Stephen Robinson's team remained largely at full strength for the visit of an anaemic Hearts side.
And although not at their effervescent best, the hosts eked out victory to stay in rude health in the upper reaches of the league.
Hearts' ills run far deeper, with results remaining wretched and MacPhee still in the dark over his future. Craig Levein's former assistant has been unable to arrest the slide and the club have just one win in 10 Premiership matches.
Away from Tynecastle they are particularly feeble - losing four in a row in the league and failing to score in five. Stendel will find himself in the thick of a relegation battle when the former Barnsley boss begins work in Gorgie on Tuesday.
Hearts badly need a quick cure but the the dreadful opening 40 minutes, devoid of chances, would only be of use as an antidote to insomnia.
The first moment of quality, and first shot on target, delivered the opening goal and was in stark contrast to everything that had preceded it. Jermaine Hylton was the architect, jinking down the left wing and flummoxing Craig Halkett with a nutmeg before his cutback was crashed into the near-post top corner by Long.
Hearts, looking utterly bereft of confidence and creativity, struggled to muster a response. Ryo Meshino had a couple of efforts, sending one over the bar from a Halkett knockdown then firing straight at Mark Gillespie.
Steve MacLean drew a sprawling save from the home goalkeeper but Hearts remain in a critical condition. And the hosts were deprived the benefit of breathing space when Long crafted a second goal that should have stood.
The forward hurtled down the right and squared to Liam Polworth, whose shot was knocked home at close range by Campbell standing at least a yard onside.
Mulraney's dismissal in added time was shrouded in mystery, with referee Alan Muir apparently taking exception to something the winger said to him. There is no doubt over Hearts' parlous state, though.
Man of the match - Chris Long
BBC Sport Scotland's Jonathan Sutherland at Fir Park
Long almost ripped the roof of the net off with his superb strike that won this game. Hylton deserves credit as well for the assist and general menace throughout.
But Long gets the nod for his involvement in what was almost goal number two, ruled out for offside. He showed a great turn of pace before driving into the box before delivering the perfect cutback.
'More to come from Motherwell' - reaction
In-form Motherwell don't fear Rangers - Robinson
Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson: "It was a really professional performance. I'm told the second goal was onside and it would have killed the game off. We thoroughly deserved the win.
"We are in third place and enjoying it at the moment but I still think there's more come. It's my job to manage expectations. We still have to make sure we get enough points to stay in this division, then take it from there."
Hearts caretaker manager Austin MacPhee: "The period when we're on top, we need to be more clinical. We're obviously lacking firepower and the squad is slightly unbalanced - we could do with another wide player. The boys just need to stick together.
"The players are lacking confidence but showed good spirit. They have been really good for me, there is a good culture within the group and whoever inherits that will have a good starting point."