Hearts vs Motherwell. Scottish Premiership.
TynecastleAttendance18,353.
Match report as Callum Slatter's goal is the difference at Tynecastle; Motherwell have now gone 10 league games unbeaten stretching back to last season - they remain undefeated in the Premiership on the road in more than six months under Stuart Kettlewell
Sunday 3 September 2023 20:34, UK
A well-worked goal from Callum Slattery earned 10-man Motherwell a 1-0 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle as the visitors joined Celtic on 10 points at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Slattery finished off a brilliant move in the 29th minute before the VAR officials reversed an offside decision against him.
Hearts pinned Motherwell back for the vast majority of the second half but could not find an equaliser despite Paul McGinn's 69th-minute red card.
The home side rarely tested Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly, partly thanks to an outstanding performance from visiting centre-back Bevis Mugabi.
Motherwell have now gone 10 league games unbeaten stretching back to last season and added Tynecastle to the list of away grounds where they have got results from - they remain undefeated in the Premiership on the road in more than six months under Stuart Kettlewell.
Hearts made three changes following their 4-0 defeat by PAOK in Greece on Thursday while Harry Paton replaced Joe Efford in the Motherwell team after netting a late winner against Kilmarnock.
Both sides showed an attacking intent from the off but it was Motherwell who were making the opposition goalkeeper work.
Zander Clark tipped over efforts from Mugabi and Blair Spittal before the visitors took the lead.
Slattery and Spittal cut Hearts open as they exchanged passes following Stephen O'Donnell's diagonal ball and the former Southampton midfielder slotted the ball home in yards of space.
Slattery almost scored an even better goal moments later after winning a tackle just inside his own half and launching a shot which beat Clark but just cleared the bar.
The frustration among the Hearts fans was audible in the aftermath of the goal and their mood might have grown worse only for Peter Haring to survive strong penalty claims for handball.
Alex Lowry had several first-half efforts for the hosts but his most dangerous effort was blocked by O'Donnell.
The on-loan Rangers player was taken off at half-time along with fellow wide player Yutaro Oda as Hearts moved to a back three to match Motherwell. Defender Tony Sibbick and striker Kyosuke Tagawa came on.
Kelly came out to stop Lawrence Shankland getting on the end of a through ball immediately after the restart and Spittal and Tagawa missed good chances at either end.
Hearts began to pin Motherwell back but the visiting defence diverted efforts from Shankland and Liam Boyce over the bar.
Any chance Motherwell had of changing the momentum disappeared in the 69th minute when McGinn hauled down Boyce after the striker got in front of him as he chased a long ball.
The former Hibernian player claimed he had his own shirt pulled but there was no recourse for overturning his second yellow card. He had been booked in the first half for a foul on Alex Cochrane.
Motherwell suffered more disruption when Slattery limped off. Davor Zdravkovski came on and former Hibernian forward Oli Shaw soon joined him for his debut.
Kelly produced his first save in the 86th minute as Shankland's effort bounced off the ground and Motherwell survived seven minutes of stoppage-time thanks to more resolute defending.
The Scottish Premiership takes an international break with Hearts returning to action at home to Aberdeen on September 16.
Motherwell are at home to St Mirren on the same day. Both games kick-off at 3pm.
