Maroon memories: Tommy's new guns shoot down Steelmen

TOMMY McLEAN had spent six months sculpting a new-look Hearts side - and the 1995 model appeared far more durable than some of its predecessors. Former Motherwell boss McLean took his team back to his old stamping ground with ten changes from the Hearts team that drew 1-1 at Fir Park in August 1994.

Only Steve Frail remained from that side, but he and the new boys, including all seven signed by McLean since October, went one better and Hearts thoroughly deserved to take all three points.

Throughout the second-half, the Capital outfit carried the greater threat and restricted Motherwell to few genuine goal chances. The new model still had its rough edges, most notably in defence where there was still a shakiness that on an other day could have been punished. Much of that came from the last line of defence.

Craig Nelson was still settling in at Tynecastle and displayed his undoubted shot-stopping abilities with two good saves to deny Tommy Coyne and Rab McKinnon either side of the interval. But his reluctance to come off his line for crosses was a worry and led to a lack of confidence from the men in front of him. But, if the jury was still out on the defence, there was no question that another much-maligned area of the Hearts side, the midfield, functioned superbly.

The introduction of Brian Hamilton and Scott Leitch to ferret around on either side of the unflappable Jim Bett provided an ideal balance and the trio played a major part in taking all three points back to Edinburgh. If Hamilton was worried about the reception he would get from the Hearts fans after his cross-city move, it took him precisely 17 minutes to do some thing about it.

The midfielder had failed to score in 21 appearances for Hibs in this season, but he showed tremendous composure at the end of a superbly-timed run from midfield to slot a Kevin Thomas pass beyond the advancing Steve Woods.

Hamilton's late runs beyond the strikers was a feature of the Hearts game throughout, with McLean using the player in a more positive role than he was employed in at Easter Road. The goal settled Hearts, who looked comfortable until Paul McGrillen cracked a superb equaliser past Nelson in 33 minutes. After the break, and playing against a strong wind, Hearts gradually took control, but it took a ridiculous decision by referee Louis Thow to give them the opportunity to retake the lead.

A mis-hit McCart clearance flew high into the air, forcing Woods to handle under his bar. There was no chance that the clearance was a deliberate passback, but that's the way Thow saw it and Hearts took full advantage. A couple of shots crashed off the legs and bodies that Motherwell packed into their six-yard box before the ball broke to Colin Miller, who capped his best performance for Hearts with a right-foot shot that Woods got a hand to but could not keep out. With the Hearts forward line of Hagen and Thomas hassling the Motherwell defence throughout, the home side were never allowed to build from the back in the manner they've become accustomed to. Accordingly, they were able carve out few openings as Hearts held them comfortably.

The hard-to-please Hearts manager said: "We tried one or two different things because we were away from home and they worked well. There were exceptional performances from Leitch and Hamilton, who took his goal very well after a great pass from Kevin Thomas."